Walkthrough: Senate shooting incident

Patrick Cruz recounts what he witnessed while covering the shooting incident at the Senate

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate building was placed on lockdown on Wednesday evening, May 13, before gunshots later rang through the complex, leaving some senators, staff, and members of the media trapped inside.

The chaos unfolded after Senator Ronald dela Rosa — facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity — appeared at the Senate on Monday, May 11, after months out of the public eye, later taking refuge inside the complex.

Dela Rosa backed a leadership coup that installed fellow Duterte ally Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president, amid the looming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Cayetano said he would not allow authorities to arrest Dela Rosa, the former police chief behind the bloody drug war of the Duterte administration, within Senate premises.

There was speculation that the shootout was staged to facilitate Dela Rosa’s escape. Dela Rosa left the building in the early hours of Thursday, May 14, after the shootout.

The Senate and National Bureau of Investigation agents later offered conflicting accounts of what transpired. Authorities launched an investigation into the incident.

A day after the shooting, Rappler reporter Patrick Cruz recounted what he witnessed while covering the chaos inside the Senate building. – Rappler.com