Confusion Inside the Senate as Bato dela Rosa Reportedly Exits the Premises Overnight
Reports circulated that Senator Bato dela Rosa may have left the Senate early on Thursday morning, May 14, following the reported International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against him.
According to a news source, the senator was allegedly seen leaving the Senate premises between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m., reportedly accompanied by Senator Robin Padilla. This claim came after earlier reports suggesting confusion and tension inside the Senate building the night before.
At around 2:30 a.m., another report stated that Dela Rosa was still inside the Senate after sounds resembling gunfire were heard within the building. The situation caused alarm and speculation among observers about what was happening inside the premises. A photo later surfaced showing the senator with his lawyer, Atty. Israelito Torreon, adding to public attention surrounding the incident.
Torreon later addressed the situation online, dismissing claims that the gunfire was staged as a distraction to allow the senator to leave the building. He shared the photo on social media in an attempt to counter online rumors and clarify the situation. Meanwhile, authorities confirmed that the shots heard inside the Senate came from personnel of the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, which further fueled discussions about the unusual events that unfolded.
The incident came shortly after the International Criminal Court confirmed on May 11 that an arrest warrant had been issued against Dela Rosa in connection with alleged crimes against humanity tied to the previous administration’s controversial anti-drug campaign. In addition, the Supreme Court of the Philippines reportedly denied his request for a temporary restraining order against the ICC warrant.
The reports quickly spread online, sparking debate and speculation about the senator’s whereabouts, the situation inside the Senate, and the broader legal developments surrounding the ICC case.