Makati court yet to rule on DOJ plea for warrant vs Trillanes

MANILA, Philippines — “Not today.”

Judge Andres Soriano of Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 did not issue a ruling on the Department of Justice’s plea for warrant and hold departure order against Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday.

Soriano's clerk of court, lawyer Rhodora Peralta, told reporters that the Soriano would not issue a ruling on Wednesday. “Probably not tomorrow,” she added.

READ: Makati court wraps up proceedings on DOJ's plea for warrant vs Trillanes

The announcement was made hours after members of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group went inside the Makati RTC Branch 148’s office. They refused to say whether they were waiting for orders regarding Trillanes' case.

Peralta did not categorically say when the ruling would be released.

Soriano is handling the government’s plea for a warrant and travel ban against Trillanes, following President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration that the amnesty granted to the senator was “void from the beginning.”

Makati RTC Branch 148 was set to promulgate its decision on the coup d’etat case against Trillanes—over the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny—when it dismissed the charge pursuant to the amnesty granted to Trillanes and more then 250 others in 2011.

Pursuant to a ruling by the Supreme Court, the local courts are tasked to determine the factual issues regarding Duterte’s Proclamation 572, which says Trillanes did not comply with the requirements for amnesty: An application and admission of guilt to the crime charged.

The DOJ also sought a warrant against Trillanes at another Makati court, RTC Branch 150, where the senator had been charged with rebellion over the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege.

Members of CIDG went inside Makati RTC Branch 148, but they refused to answer if they are waiting for the resolution on Trillanes’ case. @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/yy3PFE0H9x

— Kristine Patag (@kristinepatag) October 17, 2018

It took less than 24 hours for Judge Elmo Alameda of Makati RTC Branch 150 to grant the motion and issue a warrant and travel ban against Trillanes.

But Trillanes has asked Alameda to reconsider his ruling and instead set further hearings on the case. Alameda has yet to rule on the senator's motion. — Kristine Joy Patag