Philippine Senate shooting prompts lockdown as Ronald dela Rosa escapes

Multiple gunshots inside the Philippine Senate on Wednesday night triggered a lockdown and allowed Senator Ronald dela Rosa to leave the building, according to officials and reports from the scene.

Dela Rosa had been staying in his legislative office since Monday after the International Criminal Court confirmed it was seeking his arrest.

He is wanted over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Philippines' war on drugs.

Police in the Philippines are now investigating whether the shooting was staged to help him escape.

People inside the Senate ran for cover as the shots were heard, and the heavily guarded building was placed under lockdown.

The incident adds a new layer of tension to an already sensitive legal and political case.

Dela Rosa, a former police chief, was a close ally of former president Rodrigo Duterte and has denied wrongdoing.

The ICC warrant cited the alleged murder of no fewer than 32 people between July 2016 and the end of April 2018.

Dela Rosa also filed an emergency petition with the Philippine Supreme Court on Wednesday, seeking to block any attempt to transfer him to The Hague.

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