Say it with flowers, as an adage goes. But in this instance, the justice secretary himself may not totally agree.
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra on Monday warned that those who sent or placed flowers outside the courtroom of a Makati regional trial court (RTC) judge who is handling the plea of the government to order the rearrest and detention of opposition Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes IV in connection with his coup d’ etat case, may be held liable for contempt.
Guevarra issued the statement in reaction to reports that several bouquet of flowers with tags bearing the words like “rule of law, hope and legacy and truth and fairness” were placed outside the sala of Makati RTC Branch 148 Judge Andres Soriano.
Soriano is expected to resolve the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) plea within the week.
The DOJ is seeking to revive the coup d’ etat case against Trillanes in connection with the 2003 Oakwood mutiny after President Duterte revoked the amnesty given to him by the previous administration after learning that he failed to comply with the requirements to qualify for the grant.
“That’s exactly the kind of pressure that has been exerted upon Judge Soriano. Some people have made it appear that any ruling against Senator Trillanes will be a deathblow to democracy and the rule of law but even a first year law student will tell you that such acts tending to influence the decision of the judge are a clear and punishable case of contempt of court,” Guevarra said.
It can be recalled that Guevarra lashed out at Magdalo Rep. Gary C. Alejano for alleging that Soriano is under “intense” pressure to grant the DOJ’s petition and rule against Trillanes.
“Rep. Alejano’s allegations 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,” he said.
Guevarra pointed out that from the DOJ has communicated with the judge, except through the pleadings and motions, raised in open court by the DOJ prosecutors handling the case.
The DOJ chief reminded Trillanes’s camp to observe the sub judice rule, which prohibits parties from the case from discussing the merits of the case in public.
After holding a hearing last Friday and deciding to admit most of Trillanes’s evidence, Soriano said he considered the DOJ’s motion submitted for resolution.
Trillanes is also facing rebellion charges before Makati court judge-Elmo Alameda of Branch 150 which has already issued a warrant of arrest against Trillanes in connection with the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege.
The case is a bailable offense, thus, Trillanes posted bail amounting P200,000 for his temporary liberty.