Beleaguered Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes IV, after presiding over a Senate hearing, was served a warrant of arrest on Tuesday, but promptly posted bail at a Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC), allowing him to skip jail after the Duterte administration revoked the amnesty granted him for an old rebellion case ensuing from a failed military mutiny.
Accompanied by opposition Sens. Francis G. Pangilinan, Paulo Benigno A. Aquino IV and Risa Hontiveros, Trillanes posted a P200,000 bail at the Makati court, allowing him to walk free and continue to attend Senate plenary sessions and committee hearings, even as the rebellion case against the former Navy officer has yet to be decided by the court.
“Hopefully,” Trillanes replied when asked by reporters if he expects to return to the Senate after posting bail. He described the case as “an attempt to muzzle the opposition,” Trillanes told reporters.
Trillanes also indicated he is keen to return to the Senate and resume the work of the Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development where he was presiding over a hearing on various bills referred to the panel when the arresting team arrived to serve the arrest warrant.
“Natalo ang demokrasya [Democracy lost]…even after we submitted evidence to debunk the rebellion charges,” Trillanes said, noting that he was granted amnesty for the alleged offense “seven years ago.”
The senator lamented that “essentially, we no longer have a democracy, but I was advised to post bail [so] we will go with the arresting officers no matter if there is no basis.”
Asked if he intends to bring a case before the Supreme Court, Trillanes replied: “I dont know yet, but that is an option,” insisting that he already showed proof that he filed for amnesty.
No application for amnesty
THE Makati City RTC Branch 150 on Tuesday formally reopened the rebellion case against Trillanes as it granted the Department of Justice’s motion for the issuance of an arrest warrant and a hold departure order against him.
In a 22-page resolution, Presiding Judge Elmo Alameda pointed out that, after the hearing it conducted on September 14, the prosecution managed to prove that Trillanes actually did not apply for amnesty.
The prosecution led by Acting Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon presented a certification dated August 30, 2018, issued and signed by one Lt. Gen. Thea Joan Andrade of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Discipline, Law and Order Division to prove that the senator failed to apply for an amnesty.
“The Court’s evaluation of the…certification is that it confirms the claim of the prosecution that Sen. Trillanes did not apply for amnesty,” the order read.
Alameda said the burden of proving compliance with the minimum requirements to be entitled to amnesty under Proclamation No. 75 issued by the previous administration rests on Trillanes.
“However, Sen. Trillanes, through his counsel, failed to convince this Court that he indeed complied with the minimum requirement to personally fill up and file the official amnesty application form as required in Section 5,6 and 11 of DND [Department of National Defense] Amnesty Committee Circular Dated December 21, 2010,” Alameda pointed out.
The trial court noted that Trillanes failed to present the original hard copy, a duplicate copy or even a photocopy to substantiate his claim that he personally accomplished and filed his official amnesty application form.
The court also gave weight to the online news report published on January 5, 2011, which was presented by the prosecution to prove that Trillanes failed to expressly admit his guilt for the crimes committed during the Oakwood mutiny and Manila Peninsula incident.
“Since Sen. Trillanes cannot produce the copy of the official application form for amnesty, which he purportedly filed with the DND Amnesty Committee containing the admission of guilt expressly made, it can be safely stated here that Sen. Trillanes failed to comply with the minimum requirement of expressly admitting his guilt for the offenses committed during the Oakwood mutiny and the Manila Peninsula incident,” Alameda explained.
‘Stop the drama’
Amid the unfolding developments, Malacañang, for its part, urged embattled Trillanes IV “to stop the drama and allow the legal process to take its course.”
“The court has spoken. As the President said, we will respect the decision of the Judiciary. Whatever Sen. Antonio Trillanes has to say can be addressed to the court,” Presidential Spokesman Harry L. Roque Jr. said .
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said the order is anchored on solid legal ground and that Alameda of Makati RTC, who issued the court resolution, is a no-nonsense judge who has a reputation for independence and probity.
“Trillanes should face the music and dance as Frank Sinatra would croon in his song with the same title. He has stop milking the issue and act pathetically as if he is a a victim of injustice,” Panelo said. “The law of karma, as well as of the law, has finally caught up with his shenanigans. He has been using his position as senator in planting the seeds of hate and sedition against PRRD [President Rodrigo Roa Duterte] and the government.”
Image credits: AP