Gov’t prosecutors ask Makati court to issue arrest warrant vs Trillanes

September 4, 2018

Government prosecutors on Tuesday asked a Makati court to issue an arrest warrant and a hold departure order against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV following the revocation by President Rodrigo Duterte of an amnesty granted to him.

The filing of the four-page motion signed by Acting Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon, Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera and Assistant State Prosecutor Mary Jane Systat came as Duterte issued Proclamation No. 572, which revokes the Department of National Defense Ad Hoc Committee Resolution No. 2 issued on January 31, 2011 granting amnesty to Trillanes.

Duterte declared “void ab initio” the grant of amnesty to Trillanes under Proclamation No. 75 issued by former President Benigno Aquino III for failing to comply with the minimum requirements to qualify under the amnesty proclamation.

The Department of Justice said the case of coup d’etat against Trillanes has yet to be terminated by the court despite the issuance by Aquino of Proclamation No. 75.

The Makati City RTC, Branch 148, merely granted the motion of Trillanes to cancel the promulgation by reason of Proclamation No. 75.

“It is clear that this instant case is still pending with this Honorable Court and has yet to be terminated through a promulgation of judgment which was merely suspended last December 16, 2010,” the motion read.

“Accused Trillanes is an incumbent Senator of the Republic. He has the means and resources to flee to another country in order to escape Philippine criminal jurisdiction. It is therefore imperative that a hold departure order be issued directing the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to prevent him from leaving the Philippines during the pendency of this case,” the DOJ said.

Navera said once Trillanes is arrested, the DOJ would ask the court to set the date for his promulgation. DMS