MANILA, Philippines – On May 11, the House of Representatives approved the justice committee report that found probable cause in the complaints against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte. A total of 257 lawmakers voted to indict Duterte, exceeding the 215 House members who signed her impeachment complaint in 2025.
The Vice President made history by becoming the first Philippine official to be impeached twice.
At the upper chamber, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was elected as Senate president, ousting Senator Tito Sotto. Thirteen senators supported Cayetano’s leadership, including Senator Bato dela Rosa, who, after months of being absent, showed up to support Cayetano.
Dela Rosa’s reappearance was meant not just to back the Senate coup but also to shield himself from a possible International Criminal Court arrest. The ICC issued a warrant against Dela Rosa for the alleged killings in former president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war.
On May 13, gunshots were fired within the premises of the Senate building after it went into lockdown, hours after the Supreme Court did not provide immediate relief to Dela Rosa, who is seeking a temporary restraining order against the ICC warrant.
In the early hours of May 14, after the gunfire incident, Dela Rosa escaped from the Senate premises. In the afternoon, Cayetano confirmed Dela Rosa’s exit.
“The Senate sergeant-at-arms confirmed he’s no longer in the building,” Cayetano said, adding that Dela Rosa had left with Senator Robin Padilla.
Catch more stories in these photos from the week that was:
Russia’s Su-25 jet aircraft releases smoke in the colors of the Russian state flag during a military parade on Victory Day, marking the 81st anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, on May 9, 2026. PHOTO BY SHAMIL ZHUMATOV/REUTERS
A person uses her mobile phone during a march on Mother’s Day, asking for support in their fight against impunity in Mexico, at the Roundabout of the Disappeared, in Mexico City, on May 10, 2026. PHOTO BY RAQUEL CUNHA/REUTERS
Coco Gauff is seen in action during her fourth-round match against fellow American Iva Jovic, at the Italian Open in Foro Italico, Rome, Italy, on May 11, 2026. PHOTO BY CIRO DE LUCA/REUTERS
Tourists walk after disembarking from the cruise ship MV Hondius, affected by a hantavirus outbreak, docked at the port of Granadilla de Abona, Tenerife, Spain, on May 11, 2026. PHOTO BY BORJA SUAREZ/REUTERS
Doctors treat the fingers of Senator Ronald dela Rosa, which he injured after stumbling on stairs while fleeing NBI agents attempting to arrest him on an ICC-issued warrant, on May 11, 2026. PHOTO BY ANGIE DE SILVA/RAPPLER
Members of the new Senate majority, led by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, huddle during a recess of the plenary session on May 11, 2026. SENATE SOCIAL MEDIA UNIT
Essyla, representing Belgium, performs ‘Dancing on the Ice’ during the first semi-final of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, in Vienna, Austria, on May 12, 2026. PHOTO BY LISA LEUTNER/REUTERS
Swans are released into Hamburg’s inner city lake Alster, following their winter quarters in Hamburg, Germany, on May 12, 2026. PHOTO BY JONAS WALZBERG/REUTERS
Britain’s King Charles III reads out as he sits beside Queen Camilla during the State Opening of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster in London, on May 13, 2026. PHOTO BY KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/POOL VIA REUTERS
Palestinian artists paint a mural depicting soccer star Lamine Yamal, who waved a Palestinian flag during Barcelona’s LaLiga victory parade, on the rubble of buildings destroyed during the war, at Shati (Beach) refugee camp in Gaza City, on May 13, 2026. PHOTO BY EBRAHIM HAJJAJ/REUTERS
A protestor displays a cutout of Senator Ronald dela Rosa with a slogan calling for his arrest, during a rally outside the Senate on May 13, 2026. PHOTO BY NOEL CELIS/REUTERS
Senate Secretary Mark Llandro Mendoza and Deputy Secretary for Legislation Marivic Laurel Garcia formally receive the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte from House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil on May 13, 2026. SENATE SOCIAL MEDIA UNIT
Senate security personnel and police officers ask members of the media to leave the building after gunshots were heard on May 13, 2026. PHOTO BY ELOISA LOPEZ/REUTERS
Military and Senate security personnel work on the scene after gunshots were fired inside the building, as chaos mounted in anticipation of an attempt to arrest Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, on May 13, 2026. PHOTO BY ELOISA LOPEZ/REUTERS
Rescuers work at the site of an apartment building damaged during Russian missile and drone strikes, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 14, 2026. PHOTO BY VALENTYN OGIRENKO/REUTERS
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman arrives at the federal courthouse, as the trial in Elon Musk’s lawsuit over OpenAI’s for-profit conversion continues, in Oakland, California, on May 14, 2026. PHOTO BY MANUEL OBREGOZO/REUTERS
A boy takes a picture inside the Luxor Museum, in Luxor, Egypt, on May 14, 2026. PHOTO BY MOHAMED ABD EL GHANY/REUTERS
Director Pawel Pawlikowski, cast members Sandra Huller, August Diehl, and Hanns Zischler leave following the screening of the film ‘Fatherland’ in competition at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, on May 14, 2026. PHOTO BY MARKO DJURICA/REUTERS
US President Donald Trump sits as Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on May 14, 2026. PHOTO BY EVAN VUCCI/REUTERS
Personnel from several government agencies participate in the Philippine Full-Scale Search and Rescue Exercise at Dolomite Beach in Manila on May 15, 2026. The large-scale simulation exercise intends to improve the readiness and response capabilities of Search and Rescue units, reinforce coordination among participating agencies, and evaluate communication systems during aviation and maritime emergency scenarios. PHOTO BY RAPPLER
– with reports from Reuters/Rappler.com


