Makati judge defers ruling on DOJ’s arrest bid vs. Trillanes

A Makati court deferred Friday ruling on the Department of Justice's bid for the issuance of an arrest warrant and hold departure order against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for a coup d'etat case that was dismissed seven years ago.

Trillanes' lawyer Rey Robles, in a press conference, said they received a three-page copy of the order at 3:11 p.m. Friday and read its dispositive portion.

"Premises considered, the resolution of the urgent ex-parte omnibus motion for the issuance of hold departure order and alias warrant against Trillanes is deferred," the order read.

The order also states that "without necessarily reopening the case and/or giving due course" to the prosecution's motion, the parties are given a chance to present evidence on:

• whether or not Trillanes filed the requisite application for amnesty under Proclamation 75 before he was granted amnesty in 2011, and
• whether or not there was an admission of guilt on his part at the time he applied for and was granted amnesty. 

Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 Judge Andres Soriano set the hearing on October 5 at 9 a.m. Soriano is handling the coup d’etat case, which is non-bailable, filed against Trillanes over the 2003 Oakwood mutiny.

Earlier this month, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation 572 revoking the amnesty given by former President Benigno Aquino III to Trillanes.

The DOJ then filed a motion before two Makati courts asking for the issuance of arrest warrant and hold departure order against the former Navy officer.

Three days ago, Makati RTC Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda, who is handling the rebellion case, issued an arrest warrant and HDO against Trillanes based on the motion of the DOJ.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Guillermo Eleazar went to the Senate to serve the warrant and arrest Trillanes.

Trillanes posted P200,000 bail after undergoing booking procedures at the Makati City Police Station.

In a bid to counter the charges, Trillanes has presented sworn affidavits of Department of Defense officers and news reports supposedly proving he had submitted an application form, where he and other Magdalo soldiers agreed to a "general admission of guilt."

However, Judge Alameda disregarded the evidence Trillanes presented in his defense in the absence of an "official copy of the amnesty application form." —with Nicole-Anne Lagrimas/MDM/RSJ/KBK, GMA News