SC showed 'semblance of independence,' Trillanes says

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has considered the Supreme Court’s denial halt order plea as a victory, saying the tribunal “took a stand” in favor of his arguments challenging the constitutionality of Proclamation 572.

Trillanes, in a televised interview, said that the SC showed “some semblance of independence” as it “took a stand in some way” on his plea challenging President Rodrigo Duterte’s Proclamation 572 that said that the amnesty granted to him was void from the beginning.

“Their initial decision was a welcome development because it was a show of their independence, so far,” he added.

The SC in an en banc session junked Trillanes’ plea for a temporary restraining order against Proclamation 572. It noted that the matter of the senator’s admission of guilt is a factual matter that should be tackled by a trial court or Court of Appeals.

The SC also said that it took “judicial notice” of Duterte’s pronouncement that Trillanes will not be apprehended without a court-issued warrant. This, the tribunal said, means that there is no urgent necessity for the court to issue an injunctive relief.

Trillanes said that the SC could have dismissed outright his petition, but it has, instead, ordered the respondents to comment on his plea.

“So it was good enough,” he added.

The senator, however, stressed that his ordeal is far from over. He added that Duterte is “hell-bent” to put him away “in whatever form.”

Guevarra: SC recognized trial courts’ jurisdiction

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra for his part also welcomed the SC’s order.

He agreed with the SC that there is no extreme urgency in Trillanes’ case “as the trial courts have set the DOJ’s (Department of Justice) motions for alias warrant of arrest and HDO for hearing.”

This gives the senator an “opportunity to be heard,” Guevarra added.

Guevarra is one of the named respondents in Trillanes’???? petition before the SC.

Guevarra said that the SC “has also acknowledged the trial courts’ continuing jurisdiction over the coup d’etat and rebellion cases, notwithstanding the alleged ‘finality’ of the orders of dismissal based on the grant of amnesty to Senator Trillanes.”

READ: A duel of documents: DOJ, Trillanes cite different rulings

The DOJ has argued that Makati court Branch 148, that handled the coup d’etat case against Trillanes, has only suspended promulgation of a decision in lieu of amnesty proceedings in 2010.

Trillanes’ camp rebutted that the case has been dismissed in 2011 pursuant to the amnesty.

Meanwhile, the DOJ argued before Makati court Branch 150 that Trillanes only posted bail in 2010, for the rebellion case.

Trillanes, however, stressed that the case was also dismissed in 2011.

Trillanes is set to defend his cases before the local courts on September 13 and 14, respectively.