The Episcopal Church in the Philippines has issued a pastoral statement calling the leadership of the Philippine Senate to “accountability and integrity” after the sudden return of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa (pictured) to the chamber, six months after his absence from public Senate life amid an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.
The church said it viewed “with grave apprehension” the abrupt changes in Senate leadership, dela Rosa’s politically charged return, and the looming impeachment proceedings now before the chamber.
“The Senate bears a solemn constitutional duty to uphold impartiality, due process, and the rule of law,” the church said, warning that democratic institutions must remain free from “undue political pressure and partisan interests,” especially during proceedings of national consequence.
The statement came as the Philippines was shaken by a dramatic confrontation inside the Senate building, where gunfire was reported after dela Rosa, a former national police chief and a principal figure in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, sought refuge while contesting possible transfer to The Hague. Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano confirmed that at least 32 shots were fired by law enforcement agencies and Senate guards, and no casualties were reported.
The BBC reported that the gunshots followed a Facebook Live broadcast in which dela Rosa appealed for supporters to help him avoid being taken to The Hague, while officials later gave conflicting accounts about who was present and who fired shots inside the Senate complex. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for calm and said the government would investigate whether the incident was connected to a destabilization effort.
Dela Rosa later fled the Senate after the shooting incident, according to UCA News, which reported that his wife texted Cayetano to say he had “made his escape” for the safety of his colleagues. Critics in civil society alleged the episode may have been stage-managed to gain sympathy for the Duterte camp, while police and government officials said investigations were continuing.
The International Criminal Court warrant against dela Rosa was issued confidentially on November 6, 2025, and was publicly released on May 11, 2026, according to the Philippine Star’s publication of the warrant details. The ICC accuses the senator, who served as chief of the Philippine National Police during Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, of crimes against humanity linked to the deaths of at least 32 people from July 2016 to April 2018.
Dela Rosa has denied wrongdoing and has asked the Philippine Supreme Court to prevent his arrest or transfer to any foreign tribunal without prior judicial authorization (GMA News
). The Supreme Court did not issue the temporary restraining order requested by dela Rosa, but directed government officials to comment within 72 hours and left open the possibility of interim measures if needed.
For Anglicans, the significance of the ECP statement lies not only in its political timing but also in the province’s public theology. The Episcopal Church in the Philippines, an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion since 1990 with seven dioceses and about 125,000 members, installed the Most Rev. Nestor Dagas Poltic Sr. as its eighth prime bishop in March 2025. Its own mission statement commits the church “to seek to transform unjust structures of society,” “to challenge violence of every kind,” and “to pursue peace and reconciliation”.
That Anglican mission language framed the church’s intervention in a national crisis over law, violence, constitutional order, and impunity. “The Church therefore calls upon all public officials and political leaders to act with wisdom, restraint, and moral courage,” the ECP said in its pastoral statement. “Genuine leadership is measured not by political power, but by faithfulness to justice, accountability, and service to the common good,” it added.
The church also urged Episcopalians and other Filipino citizens to remain “vigilant, prayerful, and actively engaged in the democratic life of the nation,” saying that political uncertainty requires Christians to stand for “truth, justice, and righteousness” while rejecting acts that divide the public and weaken institutions.
Roman Catholic leaders have also appealed for calm, with Archbishop Alberto Uy of Cebu urging Filipinos to remain “calm, prayerful, and respectful” during what he called “delicate and emotionally difficult times” for the country. Uy asked government leaders and security forces to act with care, patience, and sobriety, and to ensure that “truth, justice, compassion, and respect for human dignity” guide their decisions.
The political stakes are high because the Senate is expected to serve as the impeachment court for Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of the former president, following action by the House of Representatives. UCA News reported that activists believe the Senate leadership change may favor the Duterte camp as the chamber prepares for the impeachment trial, while supporters of the former president have rallied outside the Senate amid the confrontation over the ICC warrant.
The ECP closed its pastoral statement with two biblical appeals to public righteousness: Amos 5:24, “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream,” and Psalm 37:28, “For the Lord loves justice; He will not forsake His faithful ones”.
“In this challenging time,” the church prayed, “Almighty God will grant wisdom to our nation’s leaders, strengthen our democratic institutions, and guide our country toward peace, justice, and unity”.
