Philippine Senate guards investigated for firing shots as fugitive senator fled

The officer identified as firing the first shot was a classmate of Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who escaped in the chaos

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Military personnel enter the Philippine Senate building where Senator Ronald dela Rosa is under protective custody on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:41pm, 19 May 2026Updated: 5:22pm, 20 May 2026

Security officers from the Philippine Senate are being investigated for firing their weapons without provocation as a senator wanted by the International Criminal Court sought refuge in the building, officials said on Tuesday.

Senator Ronald dela Rosa briefly sought refuge in the Senate last week while asking the Philippine Supreme Court to stop an attempt by government agents to arrest him.

The fugitive senator, the former national police chief in the early years of Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, barely escaped arrest before wild scenes erupted on Wednesday.

Shots were fired during the mayhem that sent senators scurrying into their offices for shelter.

Philippine Senator Ronald dela Rosa talks to the media before the start of a plenary session at the Senate on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Philippine authorities presented their initial findings into the incident at a public briefing on Tuesday.

Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla identified Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca as the person who fired the first shot. Aplasca’s shot outside the building prompted a government agent to fire a warning shot in return, he said.

Philippine Senate guards investigated for firing shots as fugitive senator fled

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The officer identified as firing the first shot was a classmate of Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who escaped in the chaos

The officer identified as firing the first shot was a classmate of Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who escaped in the chaos