MANILA, Philippines – On May 11, the House of Representatives approved the report of the justice committee which found probable cause in the complaint against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte. A total of 257 lawmakers voted to impeach Duterte, more than the 215 members of Congress who signed his impeachment complaint in 2025.
The Vice President made history by becoming the first Philippine official to be impeached twice.
In the upper room, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was elected president of the Senatedismissing Senator Tito Sotto. Thirteen senators supported Cayetano’s leadership, including Senator Bato dela Rosa, who, after months of absence, came out in support of Cayetano.
Dela Rosa’s reappearance was not only intended to support the Senate coup but also to protect himself from possible arrest by the International Criminal Court. The ICC issued a document against Dela Rosa for alleged murders in the drug war of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
On May 13, shots were fired inside the premises of the Senate building after closing, a few hours after The Supreme Court did not grant immediate relief for Dela Rosa, who is seeking a temporary restraining order against the ICC warrant.
Early May 14, after the shooting incident, Dela Rosa escaped from the Senate buildings. In the afternoon, Cayetano confirmed the departure of Dela Rosa.
“The Senate military sergeant confirmed that he is no longer in the building,” Cayetano said, adding that Dela Rosa had left with Senator Robin Padilla.
Find more stories in these photos from the week that was:
A Russian Su-25 aircraft emits 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, at Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2026. PHOTO BY SHAMIL ZHUMATOV/REUTERS
A person uses his cell phone during a Mother’s Day protest, asking for support in their fight against impunity in Mexico, at the Circle of the Disappeared, in Mexico City, 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, May 11, 2026. PHOTO BY CIRO DE LUCA/REUTERS
Tourists walking after disembarking from the MV Hondius, affected by a hantavirus outbreakanchored in the port of Granadilla de Abona, Tenerife, Spain, May 11, 2026. PHOTO BY BORJA SUAREZ/REUTERS
Doctors treating Senator Ronald dela Rosa’s fingers, which he injured after tripping on the stairs while running away from NBI agents trying to arrest him in Document issued by ICCMay 11, 2026. PHOTO BY ANGIE DE SILVA/RAPPLER
Members of the new majority in the Senate, led by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, gathered during the recess of the congressional session on May 11, 2026. SENATE DIVISION OF SOCIAL INFORMATION
Essyla, representing Belgium, performs ‘Dancing on the Ice’ during the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, in Vienna, Austria, on May 12, 2026. PHOTO BY LISA LEUTNER/REUTERS
Swans are released into Hamburg’s inner city Alster lake, following their winter residence in Hamburg, Germany, May 12, 2026. PHOTO BY JONAS WALZBERG/REUTERS
Britain’s King Charles III reads as he sits next to Queen Camilla during the Opening of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster in London, May 13, 2026. PHOTO BY KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/POOL VIA REUTERS
Palestinian artists paint a picture showing soccer star Lamine Yamal, who waved the Palestinian flag during Barcelona’s LaLiga victory parade, on the rubble of buildings destroyed during the war, at the Shati (Beach) refugee camp in Gaza City, May 13, 2026. PHOTO BY EBRAHIM HAJJAJ/REUTERS
A protester showing a cut of Senator Ronald dela Rosa and a slogan want to be arrestedduring a meeting outside the Senate on May 13, 2026. PHOTO BY NOEL CELIS/REUTERS
Secretary of the Senate Mark Llandro Mendoza and Deputy Secretary of Justice Marivic Laurel Garcia officially receive Articles of Indictment against Vice President Sara Duterte from the General Secretary of the Council Cheloy Garafil on May 13, 2026. SENATE DIVISION OF SOCIAL INFORMATION
Senate security staff and police officers are asking journalists to leave the building after that gunshots were heard on May 13, 2026. PHOTO BY ELOISA LOPEZ/REUTERS
Soldiers and Senate security officers work at the scene after shots were fired inside the building, as chaos escalates in anticipation of an attempt to arrest Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, May 13, 2026. PHOTO BY ELOISA LOPEZ/REUTERS
Rescuers work at the site of an apartment building destroyed during a Russian missile and drone strike, in Kyiv, Ukraine, May 14, 2026. PHOTO BY VALENTYN OGIRENKO/REUTERS
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman arriving in federal court, as Elon Musk’s case case on the benefits of OpenAI exchange is underway, in Oakland, California, on May 14, 2026. PHOTO BY MANUEL OBREGOZO/REUTERS
A boy poses for a photo inside the Luxor Museum, in Luxor, Egypt, May 14, 2026. PHOTO BY MOHAMED ABD EL GHANY/REUTERS
Director Pawel Pawlikowski, actors 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, May 14, 2026. PHOTO BY MARKO DJURICA/REUTERS
US President Donald Trump is sitting while Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses in a state banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 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 aims to improve the readiness and response capabilities of Search and Rescue units, strengthen coordination between rescue agencies and emergency systems during rescue, communication systems and during emergencies. events. PHOTO BY RAPPLER
– and reports from Reuters/Rappler.com
