With no arrest order, Trillanes goes home

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV was relieved to learn that Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 148 Judge Andres Soriano has deferred the issuance of a warrant of arrest and hold departure order against him, and instead scheduled a hearing so both sides could present their evidence.

Trillanes is expected to finally go home today after being holed up in the Senate for almost a month.

“It’s a big relief not only for me but more importantly for the whole justice system, democratic institutions that were upheld by Judge Soriano,” Trillanes told reporters yesterday outside his office shortly after news of the court’s order came out.

“I will now go home. I will now leave the Senate premises… I believe we’re victorious at least for this day,” he said.

When asked what he would do when he gets home, he answered: “We’ll just chill, savor this temporary victory with family and friends and a little bar chow.”

He described Soriano as a person with “courage and integrity,” and his order as a “light amid the darkness that is engulfing our nation.” 

He thanked all those who prayed and supported him as well as the Senate leadership led by Senate President Vicente Sotto III for defending the integrity of the chamber and allowing him to stay within its premises.

In a three-page order, Soriano said the Department of Justice (DOJ)’s motion was deferred to give way for both the prosecution and the senator to present their respective evidences to prove their claims. He set the hearing for presentation of evidence on Oct. 5 at 9 a.m.

The hearing, he explained, aims to resolve “whether or not Trillanes filed the requisite application for amnesty under Proclamation 75 before he was granted amnesty in 2011.”

It also aims to determine “whether or not there was an admission of guilt on his (Trillanes) part at the time he applied for and was granted amnesty” by former president Benigno Aquino III.

Soriano clarified that the hearing of the coup d’etat case against Trillanes does not aim to reopen the case, which was already dismissed by then judge Oscar Pimentel, “but is pursuant to the Supreme Court’s ruling that gives them the leeway to resolve it.”

“In view thereof, and without necessarily giving due course to the prosecution’s Urgent Ex-parte Omnibus Motion, and only pursuant to the leeway extended by the Supreme Court, the Court deems it prudent and proper to set this case for hearing for reception of evidence,” Soriano said. 

Trillanes has been holed up at the Senate since Sept. 4 after President Duterte issued Proclamation No. 572 revoking the amnesty granted to him and other mutinous soldiers in 2011.

He claimed that various sources have informed him that Soriano was being pressured to issue a warrant of arrest. 

The hearing on the arguments, Trillanes added, was “a good start” as this would allow him to present witnesses and evidence to prove that he applied for amnesty, admitted his guilt and complied with all the requirements.

Conflict of interest 

When Trillanes returns to the Senate on Monday, he will immediately resume hearings into the alleged conflict of interest of Solicitor General Jose Calida, whose family-owned security agency allegedly bagged contracts with various agencies because of his position and connections. 

He is also considering calling for an inquiry into Calida’s involvement in Duterte’s issuance of the proclamation.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Oscar Albayalde said “no special treatment” would be given to Trillanes in the event the Makati RTC orders his detention at Camp Crame.

In case the court orders Trillanes placed under police custody, Albayalde said the PNP Custodial Center is ready for the lawmaker and some cells are ready for use.

The same center houses Sen. Leila de Lima, also a Duterte critic. She is held on drug-related charges.

Albayalde said they would treat Trillanes with respect because he is a senator.

“We also have to give courtesy to the Senate president and the Senate as a whole,” Albayalde said in reference to Senate President Vicente Sotto. – With Robertzon Ramirez, Emmanuel Tupas