Palace respects prosecutor’s filing of case vs Trillanes

March 15, 2018

Malacanang said on Thursday it respects the action of the Pasay City Prosecutor's Office to file inciting to sedition case against opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

"We respect the finding of our Pasay prosecutor on this," said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a text message to reporters.

The Pasay City Prosecutor's Office found probable cause to charge Trillanes of violating Article 142 of the Revised Penal Code during a privilege speech when the senator said the soldiers might use M60 machine gun against Duterte if they found that the president has more than P40 million in his bank accounts.

Duterte, in several instances, has said his wealth is only about P40 million.

Trillanes, in a statement, said he would face the case filed against him before the Pasay City Metropolitan Trial Court.

But he said the case against him was a clear harassment since it was based on a privilege speech, which "constitutionally guaranteed immunity from suit."

Trillanes added he did not incite anyone on his speech. He said he was not threatened by this case as he vowed to continue to criticize Duterte. Celerina Monte/DMS