Jamaine Punzalan

Armed men were seen at the premises of the Philippine Senate after consecutive gunshots were heard on the evening of May 13, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

SEN BATO DELA ROSA- ARREST- GUNSHOTS

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178168817004820260513-senate-gunshots-security-marines-MT1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Armed men were seen at the premises of the Philippine Senate after consecutive gunshots were heard on the evening of May 13, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said Wednesday those who helped Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa “escape” the Senate would be held liable. </p><p>Vida said all the events that transpired from May 11 to 14,  starting from the day Dela Rosa surfaced in the Senate to his escape in the wee hours, were being looked into by the panel of prosecutors.</p><p>&quot;Tinitingnan ito pangkalahatan, na iyong actions ba noong simula pa lang, ito ba’y planado, mas malaking plano, nilagay siya sa protective custody, ito ba ay kasama sa pagpaplano? Iyong pagsasabi ba na under attack, lockdown ang Senado, lahat ito,” Vida said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/13/cayetano-says-sen-dela-rosa-is-secured-okay-2150">Cayetano says Sen. Dela Rosa is &#x27;secured, okay&#x27;; Remulla assures no arrest will be made </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/14/bato-has-left-senate-premises-1107">Cayetano: Bato no longer at Senate </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/22/-wala-namang-humarang-sa-amin-padilla-says-dela-rosa-dropped-off-in-makati-after-senate-exit-1015">‘Wala namang humarang sa amin’: Padilla says Dela Rosa dropped off in Makati after Senate exit </a></div><p>Then Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano declared that Dela Rosa was under the “protective custody” of the Senate after the International Criminal Court unsealed a warrant for his arrest in connection to the war on drugs. </p><p>Vida said the panel’s initial findings include the following. </p><ol><li>The action taken by the Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms against the National Bureau of Investigation was not justified. </li><li>The Senate was not under attack on the night of May 13. </li><li>The NBI attempted to implement the arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court against Dela Rosa. </li><li>The ICC warrant was unsealed and made public on May 11, 2026  and any person who helped him escape may be liable.</li></ol><div><br/></div><p>Vida said the findings of the panel were based on evidence and statements from the Philippine National Police, members of the media, and the Government Service Insurance System.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/17/joel-villanueva-special-session-senate-0918"><strong></strong></a></div><p>Vida noted that the DOJ panel was not able to inspect the Senate premises, which was at that time was under the leadership of Cayetano.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/24/cayetano-s-defense-of-drug-war-insults-victims-and-their-families-conti-1321">Cayetano&#x27;s defense of drug war insults victims and their families — Conti</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/13/sp-cayetano-says-dela-rosa-used-his-vehicle-to-enter-senate-in-surprise-appearance-1836">SP Cayetano says Dela Rosa used his vehicle to enter Senate in surprise appearance </a></div><p>But with the<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/17/gatchalian-elected-as-senate-president-in-congress-special-session-0921"> new leadership under Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian</a>, Vida said the DOJ would make a new request to the Senate.</p><p>“With the change in the Senate leadership, we are expecting and hoping that there will be more coordination and cooperation with the panel,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/17/joel-villanueva-special-session-senate-0918">Joel Villanueva shows up for special session</a></div><p>Vida also reported that the DOJ said the obstruction of justice complaint filed by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group against Sen. Robin Padilla was sent back for additional documents. </p><p>Vida however refused to divulge details on which document were required by the panel of prosecutors.</p><p>“That’s a matter for case build-up so hindi po namin muna mare-reveal,” Vida said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/28/padilla-s-role-in-dela-rosa-escape-indispensable-cidg-1532">Padilla’s role in Dela Rosa escape ‘indispensable’—CIDG</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/16/pnp-hopeful-of-dela-rosa-s-surrender-after-turnover-of-firearms-1524">PNP ‘hopeful’ of Dela Rosa&#x27;s surrender after turnover of firearms </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/25/dela-rosa-s-wife-asks-judiciary-don-t-be-an-accessory-to-bringing-my-husband-to-the-hague-1346">Dela Rosa’s wife asks judiciary: ‘Don&#x27;t be an accessory to bringing my husband to The Hague’</a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hmKMisA5tjg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/txl5fUVKx1Q?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UFGvnQII4b8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/><br/></div>

<p>Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said persons who helped in the “escape” of Senator Ronald Dela Rosa will be held liable, not just those who were last seen with the lawmaker in the wee hours of May 14.</p>

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said persons who helped in the “escape” of Senator Ronald Dela Rosa will be held liable, not just those who were last seen with the lawmaker in the wee hours of May 14.

DOJ: Senate was not under attack, persons who helped Dela Rosa to be held liable

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DOJ: Senate was not under attack, persons who helped Dela Rosa to be held liable

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 17, 2026 05:32 PM PHT

Read More:

Department of Justice

Fredderick Vida

Senate

Ronald Dela Rosa

Padilla

Robin Padilla

DOJ

Cayetano

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