Trillanes blasts sedition charges, urges prosecutors to think independently

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV has blasted the sedition charges filed against him and several other opposition figures, including Vice President Leni Robredo,  and urged government prosecutors not to allow themselves be used in politics.

In a statement Thursday, Trillanes branded the filing of the cases as "clear act of political persecution and harassment by the Duterte administration meant to stifle democratic dissent."

"Sana lang ay mag-isip nang malalim at hindi magpagamit sa pulitika ang mga DOJ prosecutors na mag-iimbestiga nitong kasong ito," he said. "Bagkus ay gawin ang nararapat para lumabas ang katotohanan."

Trillanes said he is ready to face the charges. He issued the statement hours after the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) lodged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) the charges in connection with the online videos that linked members of the First Family to illegal drugs.

According to Trillanes, the police investigators "clearly abused and misused the subpoena power recently bestowed on them to single out critics of the Duterte administration."

"Alam nila na wala silang hawak na ebidensya kundi ang salaysay ng isang testigo na ilang ulit nang nagsinungaling sa publiko, pero tinuloy pa rin ang pag-file ng kaso," he said, referring to Peter Joemel Advincula, who claims to be the hooded figure Bikoy in the "Ang Totoong Narcolist" videos.

Advincula was named in the complaint as both respondent and witness. —KBK, GMA News