Trillanes says will remain in the Senate until court resolves his petition

September 8, 2018

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Saturday he will not leave the Senate despite assurances from Malacañang that he will not be arrested.

"Through our contacts from the Armed Forces, there is still a standing order to arrest me so that’s another lie (of Duterte). So unless and until that order is relayed to the operating units, that has no bearing,” said Trillanes, who has been at his office at the Senate since Tuesday.

Trillanes has refused to recognize the legality and validity of Proclamation 572 issued by Duterte revoking the amnesty granted to him by the previous administration and ordering his arrest.

He said Duterte's arrest order was not valid. Trillanes said he would surrender only after a warrant of arrest is issued by the court.

Trillanes said he was “shocked” by the statement of Duterte.

He explained it was President Benigno Aquino III who granted the amnesty by issuing Proclamation 75 and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin’s action to process the amnesty applications filed by him and his fellow Magdalo Group members was part of legal procedure.

Trillanes said he complied with all requirements for the grant of amnesty, which includes completing the application form, admitting guilt to the crimes he committed and going through the process set by the DND.

In using the certification of Lt. Col. Thea Joan Andrade there was no copy of Trillanes’ application for amnesty on record, a day before the issuance of Proclamation 572, Trillanes said it showed just how “hastily and sloppily this was done by these people.”

“Did that Lt. Col. have any authority to sign it? Was Secretary Lorenzana (Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana) aware of this? Was the (AFP) Chief of Staff aware of this? They went directly (to Andrade). Somebody violated the chain of command by doing this,” Trillanes said.

Duterte said it was his prerogative to nullify the amnesty of Trillanes, but Trillanes noted it was unconstitutional.

“That is not in the Constitution. The Constitution only provides for the grant (of amnesty). This guy is amazingly stupid. Sorry for the word, but it is really coming out and he can’t hide it,” Trillanes said.

“Do your worst Mr. Duterte. At least with what he is doing now we can see there are no more pretentions. My claims in the past two years are being validated. His true nature is coming out and he just wants to turn us into a dictatorship,” he added. DMS