DOJ denies influencing judge in Trillanes case

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday denied the claim of Sen. Antonio Trillanes’ camp that the government was trying to influence a Makati judge handling his coup d’etat case.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra refuted the allegation of Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano that the government was pressuring Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 148 Judge Andres Soriano to rule against Trillanes.

Alejano claimed that Soriano has been “under pressure” to grant the DOJ’s petition to issue a warrant for Trillanes’ arrest.

The DOJ reopened the coup d’etat case against Trillanes after President Duterte voided the amnesty granted to him by former president Benigno Aquino III in 2011 in connection with the 2003 Oakwood mutiny.

Guevarra said it is the camp of Trillanes that appeared to be pressuring the judge with such an insinuation.

“Alejano’s allegation tends to impede the orderly administration of justice, unfairly cast aspersion on the integrity of the DOJ and its state prosecutors and influence Judge Soriano’s decision-making process,” Guevarra said in a statement.

“The DOJ does not interact with the judge except through the pleadings filed and arguments raised in open court,” he added.

The court is expected to rule soon on the petition of the DOJ to issue an arrest warrant and hold departure order against Trillanes.             

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