Trillanes back home for ‘political miracle,’ welcomed by pet dog

THERE AND BACK AGAIN. Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV is reunited with his family more than three weeks after seeking refuge from the Senate. Danny Pata

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Saturday returned to his home for the first time since being forced to hole up in his Senate office due to President Rodrigo Duterte's voiding of his amnesty and order to have him arrested more than three weeks ago.

Trillanes reached his house past 11:30 a.m. and was welcomed by their pet dog, based on tweets from Mao dela Cruz of Super Radyo dzBB.

Trillanes, masayang sinalubong ng kanyang aso. | via Mao Dela Cruz pic.twitter.com/iw0lhGB9zi

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 29, 2018

"Malaking kaluwagan sa aking dibdib, I got to see my family again at itong bahay namin," Trillanes said in an interview he gave inside their house.

"Pagdating ko dito, kumpleto na. Ito na iyong political miracle," he added.

The senator said: "'Yung journey na ito up and down parang roller coaster, nu'ng Thursday, Friday nangangamba ang mga kababayan natin na magwawagi ang kadiliman pero andito tayo ngayon at iba ang plano ng Diyos so I attribute that for all those who prayed na manaig ang katotohanan so nagpapasalamat ako."

PANOORIN: Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, masayang umuwi sa kanyang bahay at makasamang muli ang kanyang pamilya; Senador, nagpasalamat sa mga sumusuporta sa kanya. | via Mao Dela Cruz pic.twitter.com/BkPAldLsl9

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 29, 2018

Before leaving his Senate office, Trillanes gave a short statement to reporters then boarded a white van.

The senator was accompanied by three motorcycle unit escorts from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and about 20 media vehicles.

Trillanes credited his "unwavering" faith in God and his past experiences on why he chose to stood up to the administration.

"Alam niyo siguro marami nagtataka bakit ganito ako, ganito ang panininidigan ko, ganito ang demeanor ko. I attribute that to all my faith. Simula nu'ng 2003 marami kaming pagsubok na dinaanan at ang aming faith sa Diyos 'di nagwaiver 'yan," he said.

"Kami ay naniniwala na kami ay 'di pababayaan habang kami ay nasa tama, ilang kulungan na ang napaglipat-lipatan namin at ilan na ang nakalaban sa politika and yet we are still standing. Itong episode na ito 'di pa ito tapos hanggang andiyan si Duterte meron at merong maitim na balakin ang mga iyan," he added.

‘Weaponizing’ justice system

The senator called out on Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, who he believes should be protecting those who are grieved, but is instead "weaponizing" the justice system.

"Diyan nyo makikita na wine-weaponize na 'yung ating justice system. Itong si Sec. Guevarra na dapat siya ang tagapangasiwa, tagapangalaga ng hustisya sa ating lipunan, sila ang dapat tagahabol sa mga nang-a-agrabyado pero sila pa ngayon ang nananakot, gagamitin for political weapon and persecution," he said.

Trillanes then challenged Duterte and his critics to go all out on their attacks against him, saying that he knows "hindi nananalo ang masama."

The senator reiterated that it is the Department of National Defense that should provide a copy of his amnesty, and not the other way around.

"Alam niyo ang mga maka-Duterte ganu'n ang argumentong ginagamit pero alam ng ordinaryong tao na di tayo nagtatago ng kopya ng application form." — with Jamil Santos/MDM, GMA News