Gunfire breaks out in Philippine Senate as police try to arrest senator

Asia Gunfire breaks out in Philippine Senate as police try to arrest senator May 13, 20269:47 AM ET By  The Associated Press Philippine troopers exchange fire along a hallway at the Philippine Senate in Pasay, Philippines on Wednesday May 13. Aaron Favila/AP hide caption toggle caption Aaron Favila/AP MANILA, Philippines — A burst of gunfire rang out Wednesday night in the Philippine Senate, where authorities have tried to arrest a senator who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for a charge of crime against humanity, an Associated Press journalist and other witnesses said. It wasn't immediately clear what set off the gunfire or if there were injuries in the Senate chamber, where Sen. Ronald dela Rosa has stayed under the protection of allied senators as Philippine authorities tried to arrest him and possibly turn him over later to the ICC. The ICC had no immediate comment on the events in Manila. Sponsor Message Senate President Alan Cayetano briefly appeared before journalists in the Senate and confirmed that he has been told by the building's security that gunshots were fired, but he didn't provide other details and hastily left. "The emotions are high here," Cayetano said. "This is the Senate of the Philippines and we are allegedly under attack." A huge throng of reporters and photo and video journalists, who have been covering the tense developments, were asked to stay in an area on the second floor. Some were later allowed to leave the building after Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla Jr. arrived with police officers. Philippine Senator Ronald dela Rosa gestures to reporters at the Philippine Senate in Pasay, Philippines on Wednesday, May 13. Aaron Favila/AP hide caption toggle caption Aaron Favila/AP On Monday, the ICC unsealed an arrest warrant for dela Rosa, a former national police chief who first enforced then President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug crackdowns, in which thousands of mostly petty suspects were killed. Originally issued...