Davao court junks DOJ's travel ban plea vs Trillanes

MANILA, Philippines — The Davao court junked the government’s plea for a travel ban against Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV after it held that the senator is "not a flight risk."

Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 54 Presiding Judge Melinda Alconcel-Dayanghirang denied the Department of Justice’s plea for the issuance of a hold departure order against the senator.

The court deemed that the senator is “not a flight risk and that he will abide with his conditions imposed for his provisional liberty including his appearance before this Court when required.”

The order dated Dec. 12, 2018 was made public only on Tuesday.

Trillanes has set public engagements in Europe from Dec. 11, 2019 to Jan. 12, 2019 and in Europe from January 27 to Feb. 10, 2019.

The Makati court, where he is facing a revived rebellion case, earlier granted his plea to temporarily lift the travel ban.

The senator arrived in the country last week.

State prosecutors also sought for a hold departure order against the senator in the Davao court where he is facing a libel case filed by presidential son and former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and his brother-in-law, lawyer Manases Carpio.

The court earlier issued a warrant of arrest against Trillanes, while the senator immediately posted P96,000 for his bail bond.

Trillanes pleads not guilty

Before the same court, Trillanes pleaded not guilty on his arraignment on Tuesday morning.

The STAR reported that the senator pleaded not guilty to the four charges of libel he is facing.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV pleads not guilty to the 4 charges of libel filed before RTC Branch 54 here in Davao City | (????: Davao Breaking News) via Edith Regalado pic.twitter.com/8UAvHhhcit

— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) January 15, 2019

The case cited a radio interview of Trillanes in Cebu where he allegedly linked the younger Duterte and Carpio to shabu smuggling.

READ: Trillanes in Davao to face Paolo Duterte's libel case

They also said that the senator accused Duterte of corruption and extortion involving Uber and other companies regulated by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, the Road Board and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Trillanes said that the case was filed to “harass him.” He repeatedly said that he would face the cases squarely.

Paolo Duterte: Search for truth, justice begins

The younger Duterte welcomed the senator into their bailiwick, saying that Trillanes’ “incredible lies” are finally “catching up with him.”

RELATED: Law ‘catching up’ with Trillanes, Panelo says

Duterte also called the senator a “pathological liar” and said that the arraignment “marks the beginning of our search for the truth and justice.” — with report from The STAR/Edith Regalado