Noynoy: Amnesty for Trillanes is valid

The amnesty granted to Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and 38 other Magdalo soldiers eight years ago is valid, former President Benigno Aquino III said Tuesday.

Aquino, who granted to Trillanes and company the the amnesty with concurrence of Congress, made the position in response to President Rodrigo Duterte's Proclamation 572 which revokes the amnesty granted to Trillanes and orders his arrest on the basis that the Senator did not apply for amnesty in the first place.

Aquino cited a Resolution from the Ad-Hoc Committee of the Department of National Defense which approved Trillanes' application for amnesty.

“This January 25, 2011 document, signed by the Defense Chief, says that his application [for amnesty] is in order and as such, he is qualified for amnesty. So, he did apply [for amnesty],” Aquino said in an interview with CNN Philippines.

“I am making a statement by presenting a pertinent evidence, rather than relying on recollection. And so absent a court order, where is the authority [to arrest him without arrest warrant] coming from given that his situation does not fall in conditions allowed for warrantless arrest,” Aquino added.

Aquino also said the Liberal Party, of which he is a member, will assist Trillanes and others who are in the same situation.

“We will assist him as far as we are able to, to defend his rights and rights of anybody else in this country. As a private citizen, I will help others in similar situation,” Aquino said.

As of press time, there are no pending charges or arrest warrant issued by a competent court vs. Trillanes. —Llanesca T. Panti/JST, GMA News