DOJ to seek arrest warrant, HDO vs. Trillanes in another court

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Friday said they would ask another Makati Regional Trial Court branch to issue an alias arrest warrant against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, whose amnesty has been voided by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Aside from alias arrest warrant, the Department of Justice (DOJ) will also ask the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 within the day to issue a hold departure order (HDO) against Trillanes, Guevarra said.

"Our prosecutors, led by the acting prosecutor general, will take care of that. Today, they will also be filing similar motions in the other branch of RTC Makati, in Branch 150, similar motions as those filed before Branch 148," Guevarra told reporters at the 52nd National Police Commission founding anniversary ceremony.

In response to the DOJ's motion, Judge Andres Soriano of the Makati RTC Branch 148 on Wednesday gave Trillanes five days to file a formal comment.

Trillanes and several others  faced coup d'etat charges before Branch 148. The DOJ said the case has yet to be dismissed and that the promulgation of judgment was merely suspended.

Trillanes, a former Navy officer involved in unsuccessful attempts to overthrow the Arroyo administration, faced rebellion charges before Makati RTC Branch 150.

Guevarra said they are just following legal procedure as Duterte's Proclamation 572 is not equal to a warrant by itself.

"Hindi naman po automatic nun na because of the proclamation, yun na mismo ang gagamiting basehan to apprehend him, so we have to follow the usual court proceedings," he said.

Following Trillanes' move to challenge the proclamation before the Supreme Court, Guevarra said he will no longer comment on the matter to avoid legal issues.

He also urged fellow law practitioners from commenting on the issue especially if they have not seen the documents relevant to it.

"Hayaan na natin ang Supreme Court kesa na magbigay tayo ng kung anu-anong opinyon na hindi naman natin nakikita yung mga dokumento," Guevarra said.

"Salita ng salita, criticize ng criticize, bigay ng bigay ng legal opinion, hindi naman nila nakikita yung dokumento." —KBK, GMA News