Trillanes may seek dismissal of rebellion case

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV is contemplating filing a motion to dismiss the rebellion case against him that is now pending at the Makati regional trial court (RTC), using the testimonies of the prosecution’s witnesses from a separate court that upheld the validity of his amnesty for another coup d’etat case.

Trillanes’ lawyer Reynaldo Robles said the prosecution has filed before Judge Elmo Alameda of Makati RTC Branch 150 the pleadings and testimonies of its witnesses during the trial for the senator’s coup d’etat case before Judge Andres Soriano of Branch 148. 

Robles explained that the prosecution has used its witnesses’ testimonies during a hearing at Branch 148 as evidence for their claims on the rebellion case against Trillanes before Branch 150.    

“In effect, ni-re-reopen ni Judge (Alameda) yung case. They (prosecution) introduced the evidences, transcripts of the nine witnesses from Branch 148 hearing into the records of Branch 150 by attaching the complete records in Branch 148,” Robles told The STAR.

Robles said they are considering filing their motion to dismiss the rebellion case by next week after gathering all the necessary information and evidence that would support their claim.  

Alameda is handling the rebellion case of Trillanes. He has issued warrant of arrest and travel ban against the senator after he found legal basis for Proclamation No. 572 of President Duterte that voided Trillanes’ amnesty. 

Soriano, on the other hand, is handling Trillanes’ coup d’etat case. Soriano dismissed the case, ruling that the decision “has become final and executory,” but the judge upheld the validity of Duterte’s proclamation.

Both Alameda and Soriano are still hearing Trillanes’ cases, pending motions filed by both parties.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently filed a partial motion for reconsideration, asking Soriano to look into some parts of his ruling in upholding the validity of Trillanes’ amnesty. 

Robles said they would file their comment to the DOJ’s motion today, a day before the scheduled filing on Friday and would insist that the DOJ has no basis for the charges against Trillanes.

Robles said they have already filed before Branch 148 their motion for reconsideration, asking Soriano to strike down Duterte’s Proclamation No. 572 on Monday.