Trillanes deemed resigned from AFP – official

As soon as he filed his certificate of candidacy for senator early Tuesday morning, Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV was deemed resigned from the military service, a spokesman for the Philippine Navy said. But in a phone interview, Navy Commander Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said Trillanes will remain under military custody even with the recent developments. Under the Omnibus Election Code, any military personnel is deemed resigned from the service once a certificate of candidacy is filed. "Yes, he (Trillanes) is deemed resigned from the service but the military still has custody over him because he committed the alleged crime while still in active service," Bacordo said. Bacordo cited the case of former Armed Forces comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia who was placed under military custody even after he retired from military service in November 2004. The military had charged Garcia before a general court martial for several violations of the Articles of War in October 2004. He was convicted December 2005 and was placed under police custody over his plunder and perjury cases pending before the Sandiganbayan. A member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class of 1995, Trillanes led over 300 junior officers and men in occupying the Oakwood Premiere Suites in Makati City on July 27, 2003. One of the hardcore leaders of the Magdalo group, Trillanes stands accused of coup d’ etat before the Makati regional trial court and before a general court martial in connection with the short-lived Oakwood mutiny. On Tuesday, Trillanes trooped to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) head office in Intramuros, Manila to personally file his certificate of candidacy for senator for the May 14 mid-term polls. "I have many supporters, we will launch a proxy campaign all over the country," Trillanes said in Filipino during an interview on dzBB radio when asked if he was confident of securing a Senate seat. On how he will conduct his campaign, hen replied: "We will maximize technology – TV, radio, print, text (SMS) and the Internet." Trillanes is married to Army Capt. Arlene Orejana, a graduate of PMA class 1997. Now with the PMA Corps of Professors, Orejana is currently on schooling in Australia. And even if she would have the time, Orejana cannot campaign for his husband, being still in active military service. "Our (political) right is just to register and vote," Bacordo said. "And unless, she sheds the uniform, she is covered by military regulations on partisan politics," he said. - GMANews.TV