Senate placed under 'elevated alert status' — Acting OSAA

The Senate has been placed under "elevated alert status" on Tuesday following tensions in the chamber as National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents attempted to serve the arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa.

"Under elevated alert status," Acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca said.

Some OSAA members were seen carrying long firearms at the Senate premises.

"May mga firearms talaga dito sa Senado (We have long firearms here in the Senate)," he said.

On Monday, tensions rose at the Senate as NBI agents chased Dela Rosa, who resurfaced after six months of being away from the public view amid reports that the ICC arrest warrant had been released.

Visibly irate at the Senate plenary, Dela Rosa alleged that the NBI agents attempted to wrestle and prevent him from entering the building.

Senators later voted to cite the NBI personnel in contempt and be detained under their custody.

Following a meeting with NBI Diretor Melvin Matibag, the agents were placed under the bureau's custody. — VDV, GMA News