An indie developer turned one of the Philippines’ recent, most cinematic political moment into a free browser game
Independent Filipino developer Jopel launched “Senate Run,” a pixel-art obstacle game inspired by the viral CCTV footage showing Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa inside the Senate building as National Bureau of Investigation agents sought to arrest him.
The game lets players control a cartoon version of Dela Rosa sprinting through Senate corridors while dodging NBI agents and wet floor signs. Players can click, tap, or press the space bar to jump over obstacles. The longer they survive, the faster the game gets, with the session’s high score saved for repeat attempts.
Once the player hits an obstacle, a mock arrest warrant appears on screen, ending the run.
The parody game draws from the real-world controversy involving Sen. Dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police chief and sitting senator, who is facing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration’s drug war, which he oversaw as top police official.
The Supreme Court had rejected Dela Rosa’s bid to block his arrest, while Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida ordered law enforcement agencies to treat him as a fugitive.
The incident gained traction online after CCTV footage from the Senate showed scenes that quickly became viral, including Dela Rosa’s movement through the building and his departure in a vehicle reportedly linked to fellow senator Robin Padilla.
Sen. Dela Rosa has denied any wrongdoing and remains a sitting senator of the Philippines.
“Senate Run” has since become part of the fast-moving online reaction to the political drama, turning a serious national controversy into an interactive satire that Filipino netizens can play directly through their browsers.