Palace respects court decision on Trillanes

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday yielded to the decision of the Makati City regional trial court (RTC) to defer the issuance of warrant of arrest against President Duterte’s arch critic, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

“That is a court decision, which we respect and defer to,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

Roque made the remark after Duterte opted to leave it up to his officials to issue statements about the latest developments regarding the senator’s case.

Roque also parried criticisms that Malacañang has given Trillanes undue attention, which he has taken advantage of for a “publicity stunt.”

Trillanes was arrested and charged for rebellion before posting bail at the Makati RTC Branch 150.

The former rebel officer turned politician is also facing charges of coup d’ etat, a non-bailable offense, before Makati RTC Branch 148 under Judge Andres Soriano.

Soriano deferred his decision, against widespread expectations, to grant the request of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue a warrant of arrest and a hold departure order against Trillanes.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he has no problem with that.

“The DOJ does not have any problem with Judge Soriano’s desire to study the issues further,” he said. 

The revival of the charges stemmed from Duterte’s issuance of Proclamation 572 on Aug. 31, revoking the amnesty granted to Trillanes and directing the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to “apprehend” the opposition senator and recommit him to the detention facility where he had been incarcerated prior to the grant of amnesty in 2011.

It also directed the DOJ and the AFP court-martial “to pursue all criminal and administrative cases” filed against Trillanes in relation to the Oakwood mutiny in 2003 and the Manila Peninsula siege in 2007.

Trillanes was granted amnesty by then president Benigno Aquino III on Nov. 24, 2010 through Proclamation No. 75 along with his fellow rebel officers of the Magdalo group over the 2007 rebellion. 

Over the weekend, chief presidential counsel Salvador Panelo said the President has left the matter to the courts even if he had issued Proclamation 572 against Trillanes.

Panelo also denied insinuations that Duterte has launched a political vendetta against his critics, starting from Sen. Leila de Lima, former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno then to Trillanes. – With Evelyn Macairan