Gunshots fired in Philippines senate in standoff with senator Ronald dela Rosa

Senator accused of crimes against humanity by international criminal court has holed up in building to evade arrest

Gunshots have been fired in the Philippine senate, as a senator who is wanted by the international criminal court (ICC) remained holed up in the building to evade arrest.

Ronald dela Rosa, a Philippine senator accused of crimes against humanity for his role in overseeing the former president Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs”, has spent two nights in the country’s senate in a standoff with the authorities.

It is unclear who fired the shots, or why troops were present at the senate. The interior secretary, Jonvic Remulla, referring to Dela Rosa by his nickname, told media outside the building: “I will not arrest Senator Bato. I am here to secure everyone.”