DOJ denies pressuring Makati judge Soriano over Trillanes case

The Department of Justice on Sunday said it "takes very strong exception" to Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano's allegation that Judge Andres Soriano of the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 is being pressured to release an arrest order against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

"The DOJ does not interact with the judge except through the pleadings filed and arguments raised in open court," Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a statement.

After President Rodrigo Duterte last month signed Proclamation 572 voiding Trillanes' amnesty, the DOJ revived two criminal cases against the senator, filing motions for the issuance of an arrest warrant and hold departure order against him at two Makati courts.

A rebellion charge against Trillanes was filed at Makati RTC Branch 150, while a coup d'etat charge was filed at RTC Branch 148.

Alejano told reporters on Saturday that the government was exerting intense pressure on Soriano. He also alleged that RTC Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda had gone through the same, prompting him to concede that his September 2011 decision dismissing the rebellion case against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV should be treated as if it never existed.

"May mga information na tayo na matindi talaga pressure sa kanya, just like what happened to Alameda, so matindi ang pressure diyan," Alejano said.

"I hope na tayuan ni Judge 'yun dahil alam ko naman na malapit na siya mag-retire at bibitbitin niya kung anumang desisyon ang kanyang gagawin sa kaso ni Senator Trillanes ay bibitbitin niya habambuhay 'yun. So ano ang mahalaga sa kanya? So sa tingin ko naman ay tatayo siya sa katotohanan," the lawmaker added.

The Justice Secretary said that the allegations being made by Alejano "tend to impede the orderly administration of justice, unfairly cast aspersion on the integrity and professionalism of the Department of Justice and its state prosecutors, and contumaciously influence Judge Soriano's decision-making process."

In a separate message, Guevarra accused Trillanes' camp of making "unfair statements." 

"I just find it unfair that Sen. Trillanes’ camp continually makes unfair statements against our side," he said. "Come to think of it, sila 'yung clearly trying to influence the decision-making ni judge. The DOJ has not engaged them in sub judice argumentation in the media, but they’re just going a bit too far."

In an interview on dzBB on Sunday, Trillanes had expressed high hopes that Judge Soriano will do the "right thing."

"Sa gitna ng mga pressure, I hope maging isa si Judge Soriano sa mga taong gagawa ng tama upang makabangon ang bayan," Trillanes said. — Dona Magsino with a report by Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/BM, GMA News