Philippine Senator dela Rosa in hiding from ICC amid VP Sara Duterte impeachment trial

A landmark impeachment trial against Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte is underway.

Thousands of police have been deployed in Manila amid street protests around the Senate building, where the hearing is taking place.

It comes as several of her high-ranking political backers have also been accused of crimes. One of them, Ronald dela Rosa, escaped from the Senate building in the chaos following a shooting in May, and has been in hiding ever since.

He's wanted by the International Criminal Court for his alleged role as the enforcer of then-president Rodrigo Duterte’s tough war on drugs policy.

The attorney for Mr. dela Rosa alleges the speed with which legal proceedings against the vice president's allies took place, could best be described as 'political persecution'.