After days of sheltering inside the Senate amid fears of arrest linked to the arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC), Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa quietly slipped out of the Senate complex early Thursday, May 14, hours after the confusion and gunfire that erupted between Senate security personnel and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

In a press conference on Thursday, may 14, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano confirmed that Dela Rosa was no longer inside the Senate building, saying the former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief voluntarily left the premises.

Cayetano disclosed that he had spoken with Dela Rosa’s wife, who sent a message explaining the senator’s sudden departure and apologizing for the turmoil that unfolded inside the Senate.

According to Cayetano, Dela Rosa’s wife said the senator feared that his continued stay inside the Senate was placing fellow senators and Senate personnel at risk.

“She hopes that we stick together,” Cayetano said, referring to the message sent to members of the Senate's newly-formed majority bloc.

The message also stated that while Dela Rosa was considered safe inside the Senate amid a reported 72-hour temporary restraining order, he allegedly took the opportunity to leave during the confusion caused by the shooting incident.

“I am sure he took the opportunity nung nagkaguluhan at nagkaputukan na,” the message read.

Cayetano stressed that the Senate’s protective custody arrangement was primarily intended to preserve the institution’s integrity rather than shield Dela Rosa from legal processes.

“Voluntary siyang umalis (He voluntarily left). What we’re protecting actually is the sanctity of the Senate, hindi siya. Like any other citizen, he has his rights,” he said when asked whether Dela Rosa remained under Senate protection.

“As Senate President, I’m protecting the integrity ng Senate. Kung mag-a-aresto ka dito, dapat legitimate, dapat coordinated, at kung wala nang (If you will arrest someone here, it has to be legitimate, coordinated and if there's no) legal remedy, we’ll allow you, but better, we’ll convince him to surrender,” he added.

Asked if Dela Rosa was now “on his own,” Cayetano responded: “Our prayers are with him.”

Cayetano later read an initial report stating that at around 2:30 a.m. on May 14, he was informed the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) that Dela Rosa, along with Senator Robinhood Padilla, had left the Senate premises.

He also clarified that Senate officials had no legal basis to stop the senator from leaving.

Cayetano, likewise, noted that while reports indicated Dela Rosa and Padilla left together, he had yet to verify the details personally.

The senator’s departure came hours after a tense shooting incident erupted inside the Senate complex involving OSAA personnel and individuals allegedly connected to the NBI.

In a text message from Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla, he said the NBI had no warrant to serve against Dela Rosa and had merely been requested by Senate official Government Service Insurance System General Manager (GM) Wick Velasco to help secure the Senate building.

According to Remulla, the request was made at around 5:09 p.m., with 21 NBI personnel arriving at approximately 6:15 p.m. They were reportedly deployed across different floors to secure the GSIS area within the Senate complex.

Remulla said one NBI agent identified as “Agent Francisco” was seated at the second-floor bridgeway with a security guard when OSAA chief Mao Aplasca challenged him.

“Sino ka? (Who are you?)" said Aplasca,” Remulla recounted.

Francisco reportedly stood up, carrying an AR-15 rifle slung sideways. Remulla said Aplasca immediately fired a warning shot, prompting Francisco to pull his trigger while aiming upward.

According to Remulla, OSAA personnel discharged 27 rounds from 9mm and .40 caliber firearms, while the NBI agent fired five rounds before fleeing the scene.

The OSAA’s incident report offered a similar but more detailed account of the confrontation.

The report stated that at around 7:45 p.m., OSAA members of the Quick Reaction Team inspected the Senate’s second-floor exit area when they spotted two men wearing black bulletproof vests marked with NBI insignias.

The Sergeant-at-Arms then reportedly shouted, “Sino ’yan? (Who is there?)” after seeing the unidentified individuals through a window.

One of the men allegedly responded, “NBI!”

Moments later, OSAA personnel claimed one of the armed individuals raised and aimed a long firearm toward members of the Quick Reaction Team, Philippine National Police personnel, and OSAA officers.

The OSAA then ordered the armed individual to lower his weapon, but he allegedly assumed a tactical position instead, triggering warning shots and eventually an exchange of gunfire.

The firefight reportedly lasted around three minutes, from 7:46 p.m. to 7:49 p.m., before Senate security personnel and police units secured the second-floor area.

The OSAA report added that the alleged NBI agents fled the scene at around 7:58 p.m.

Shortly after resurfacing at the Senate, Dela Rosa was able to dramatically reenter the Upper Chamber, vote for a new Senate President, and quietly leave after a chaotic shootout.