Gunfire broke out Wednesday night at the Philippine Senate in Manila, where authorities have been attempting to arrest a senator wanted by the International Criminal Court, according to witnesses and an Associated Press journalist present at the scene.

Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a former national police chief, has been staying in protective custody at the Senate with support from allied senators as Philippine authorities seek to arrest him for potential transfer to the ICC. It was not immediately clear what triggered the gunfire or whether anyone was injured in the incident.

On Monday, the ICC unsealed an arrest warrant for dela Rosa that was originally issued in November. The warrant charges him with crimes against humanity, specifically the murder of "no less than 32 persons" between July 2016 and April 2018, when he served as national police chief under then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

Dela Rosa played a key role in enforcing Duterte's controversial anti-drug campaign, during which thousands of mostly petty drug suspects were killed. The ICC's charges relate to his leadership of the national police force during this period, which has drawn international scrutiny for alleged human rights violations.

The standoff at the Senate represents a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between Philippine authorities and the international court. The Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019 under Duterte's administration, but the court maintains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed before the withdrawal took effect.