VP Robredo: Court broke law in issuing order to arrest Trillanes

The Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 broke the law when it issued an order to arrest Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, on the grounds that he failed to submit a copy of his application for amnesty, Vice President Leni Robredo said Wednesday.

President Rodrigo Duterte's Proclamation 572 voiding the amnesty granted to Trillanes and the rest of Magdalo soldiers eight years ago by then President Benigno Aquino III has led to a series of legal processes, with the Makati RTC 150 finally ordering the senator's arrest.  

Trillanes, along with Magdalo soldiers, participated in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny and the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege in attempts to destabilize the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

The Justice department had sought an arrest warrant for Trillanes before the Makati RTC 150 for rebellion. 

But Trillanes' camp argued that records from the Department of National Defense (DND) and footage of various news organizations have shown that Trillanes had applied for amnesty, admitted to violations of all relevant laws through their actions, and that his application for amnesty had been found in order by DND .

“Ang mga korte ang inaasahan nating maging matibay at patas na sandigan, lalo na sa laban para sa ating mga karapatan. Nabigo ang tiwalang ito sa utos ng Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 na arestuhin si Senator Trillanes, sa kabila ng malinaw na pagbigay sa kaniya ng amnestiya,” Robredo, a lawyer, said.

“Kung ang batas ay kayang baluktutin laban sa isang miyembro ng Senado, ano na lang ang posibleng gawin sa ating mga mas mahihirap na kababayan? Patuloy kaming naninindigan kasama ni Senator Trillanes, sa gitna ng panibagong panggigipit ng administrasyon sa mga kritiko nito,” she added. 

Robredo said that President Duterte's move to revoke Trillanes' amnesty shows weakness rather than power.

“Ang desisyon ng Pangulo na bawiin ang amnestiyang naipagkaloob na kay Senator Trillanes ay hindi pagpapakita ng lakas; bagkus, sinasalamin nito ang kahinaan ng administrasyon—na takot ito sa sarili niyang anino, at hindi kayang tumanggap ng pagpuna, kahit pa iyong naghahangad na makabuti para sa bansa.” 

Likewise, she accused the administration of using the opposition to distract the public from its incompetence.

“Hindi natutugunan ang mga suliraning pinapasan ng ating mga kababayan: ang pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin, ang kakulangan sa supply ng bigas, ang korapsyon mula mismo sa mga kaalyado ng Pangulo, ang pang-aagaw sa ating mga teritoryo, at iba pa. We challenge the administration to really show care and courage,” she added. 

“Tama na ang walang silbing pamumulitika, magtrabaho na para sa ikabubuti ng mamamayan,” she added.

Trillanes is back in the Senate after paying the bail bond of P200,000 for the rebellion case lodged at RTC 150.

But in another Makati court (RTC 148), the Justice department is asking for the issuance of an arrest order against Trillanes for coup d'état, which is a non-bailable case. —LBG, GMA News