In a tumultuous Monday afternoon, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation tried to arrest Senator Ronald Dela Rosa with an alleged warrant from the International Criminal Court for his alleged role in the crimes of humanity that occured when he was head of the national police during former President Rodrigo Duterte's term.

Dela Rosa, making his first appearance in the Senate since late November 2025, said he tangled with the NBI agents who were said to be accompanied by former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. A video from the Senate showed Dela Rosa brushing aside the agents at the parking lot before sprinting up the fire exit to the Senate building. Dela Rosa slipped briefly before recovering and running up the stairs.

Alan Peter Cayetano, the new senate president, was making his speech when the incident took place. Cayetano, who used to head the minority, replaced Vicente Sotto III in a vote of 13-9 and two absentions. Cayetano said the impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte has nothing to do with Sotto's ouster.

''The impeachment will be much more than dismissing a complaint because of political affiliation and it's also much, much more than convicting someone without evidence,'' said Cayetano in his remarks.

As the Senate held its session, Philippine law stopped any attempt by agents to arrest Dela Rosa. Later, the Senate approved a motion placing Dela Rosa under its protective custody while seeking to hold the NBI agents in contempt for trying to arrest a senator without proper coordination. Cayetano ordered the Senate sergeant at arms to detain the agents in the Senate.

Cayetano said the agents should have spoken to the Senate sergeant at arms that they were serving an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa

Interior and Local Government Jonvic Remulla disputed the existence of such an arrest warrant.

Rumors floated since Saturday that an arrest warrant for Dela Rosa had been issued but Remulla himself said no such document exists. However, Remulla said a subpoena was issued Monday by police criminal investigators to summon Dela Rosa over his role in the supposed killings under the war on drugs. PHS