MANILA, Philippines – Chaos broke out in the Senate on Wednesday evening, May 13. The complex went on lockdown. Gunshots followed.

Inside was Senator Bato dela Rosa, the former police chief who led the bloody drug war. He now faces an arrest warrant for crimes against humanity issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

For dela Rosa, the Senate had become a safe haven since Monday, May 11, shielded by its walls, and protected by the new leadership of his ally, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. The new Senate president had vowed not to allow his arrest within the premises of the upper chamber.

On Wednesday afternoon, Dela Rosa went live on Facebook, saying government authorities would arrest him. A few hours later, unrest unfolded.

Rappler pieced together the timeline and circumstances surrounding the shooting incident.

7:06 PM

The Senate’s Office of the Senate-at-Arms (OSAA) tells members of the media that it will go on lockdown again, giving them five minutes to vacate the building if they want.

Reporters ask for the reason for ordering the lockdown and if operatives will enforce the arrest warrant. The Senate staff did not respond.

7:17 PM

From the second floor lobby, journalists rush down to the ground floor after seeing Dela Rosa take the elevator.

Senate staff initially block the media, but journalists are able to go through the blockade after a few seconds. When the elevator opens, Dela Rosa is not there.

7:19 PM

Select reporters from Rappler, ABS-CBN, and TV5 are able to take the elevator going up. The reporters are heading to the fifth floor, where the senators’ offices are located.

However, while inside the elevator, Senate staff bar reporters from setting foot on the fifth floor. One female Senate employee orders the elevator attendant to instead bring the reporters to the second floor.

“Sa second floor lang tayo, ‘wag kang hihinto sa fifth floor, ha?” the staff says. “‘Wag kang hihinto sa fifth floor.” (Second floor only, don’t stop on the fifth floor. Don’t stop on the fifth floor.)

The select reporters then alight from the elevator on the second floor.

7:20 PM

Senate security pulls down a metal gate at the main building, preventing anyone, including members of the media, from exiting the building.

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7:25 PM

More Marines, in safety vests and kevlar helmets, enter the Senate building, walking on the second floor. They are also holding long firearms.

7:33 PM

Some journalists on the ground floor hear sounds of drilling behind a closed metal door.

7:44 PM

A few minutes before gunshots ring out, members of the Marines, the Senate sergeant-at-arms, and police officers – wearing bulletproof vests – storm the right wing of the Senate building.

Before proceeding, they cock their long firearms.

7:45 PM

From the elevator, they march toward the right wing, where the Senate’s Government Service Insurance System entrance is located.

Journalists are initially barred by the Senate staff to follow the armed personnel, but they are able to go through the blockade. The Senate security later agreed to allow journalists to observe the armed men from a distance.

Members of the media see cops and military personnel lined up in the halls. Then gunshots are heard.

One gunshot echoes through the halls. Another two follow. People start running and six more shots are heard.

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7:48 PM

From the right wing, Senate security tells reporters to take shelter at the Public Relations and Information Bureau (PRIB) office.

7:49 PM

Journalists are told to evacuate the building. Members of the media start running from the second floor to the exit on the ground floor. While they are running, the lights go out.

Senate staff open the metal gate to allow journalists to leave the building. Reporters are not able to spot cops entering the building after the gunshots.

7:57 PM

The Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives are brought to the Senate compound. Senate staff carry the documents through a trolley, then enter the building.

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8:28 PM

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla arrives at the Senate compound. He is limping due to tendonitis in the ankle, according to him.

Remulla says he’s there to secure the senators left inside the building. He also clarifies that he is there not to arrest Dela Rosa.

“I am not here to arrest Senator Bato. I am here, in fact, to secure him,” he tells reporters.

8:39 PM

More police personnel arrive at the Senate compound.

8:54 PM

Senate security personnel open the main building’s gate and allow reporters who were still inside to leave.

9:00 PM

Rappler reporter Jairo Bolledo and production specialist Franz Lopez are escorted inside by the police to fetch their things from the PRIB office.

At the time, cops and military personnel are manning the second floor. Most of the lights are still out.

9:04 PM

PNP chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. arrives at the compound and enters the Senate building. He declines to answer questions from reporters.

9:35 PM

DILG Secretary Remulla, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and senators Pia Cayetano, Joel Villanueva, Camille Villar, Mark Villar, and Imee Marcos step outside of the main building. All of them are members of the Senate majority block.

Remulla says authorities are still investigating who is behind the chaos. He says the first warning shot was fired by a member of the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, although he adds that this is not yet “conclusive.”

He reiterates that he is not at the Senate to arrest Dela Rosa. The DILG chief says the former PNP chief remains safe with his security detail.

Remulla says he received orders from the President to “secure” the senators, whoever they may be.

Cayetano says members of the majority bloc remain at the Senate after the afternoon plenary session for a caucus on the articles of impeachment against Vice President Duterte.

11:13 PM

Senator Dela Rosa’s lawyer confirms to the media that his client is still inside the building. – Rappler.com