Produce actual amnesty application, Makati judge tells Trillanes

The Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 150 has directed Senator Antonio Trillanes IV through counsel to present before the court a copy of his amnesty application form after President Duterte voided the amnesty

grant for noncompliance of the rules.

Trillanes’ counsel lawyer Reynaldo Robles told the court they “can’t find his (Trillanes) copy” and committed to file a video evidence showing thatTrillanes, a former Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade filed an application and was received by a certain Col. JosefaBerbigal.

But Judge Elmo Alameda said the video has not yet been authenticated.

“The court needs actual application form,” Alameda said, noting it would be the primary evidence in the case.

Robles insisted that records of the Department of National Defense will show that Trillanes applied.

He addedthey have circumstantial evidence that would prove that the senator did apply for amnesty, such as the amnesty certificate, photos of Trillanes holding a copy of his application form published in a broadsheet, and memorandum to the DND AdHoc Committee.

Robles also pressed that the Makati RTC no longer has jurisdiction over the rebellion case having been dismissed seven years ago after Trillianes was granted amnesty by Pres. Aquino.

Back to zero

Richard Fadullon, acting Prosecutor General explained that with Proclamation 572 issued by President Duterte voiding the amnesty given to Trillanes, "we revert back to the situation prior to the dismissal."

In 2011, Alameda dismissed the rebellion charges against Trillanesafter he was granted amnesty.

Fadullon said Pres. Aquino's amnesty grant under Proclamation 75 has been superseded by the Duterte proclamation (572), the lower court's dismissal becomes void.

But Robles countered Proclamation 75 is valid "until judicially annulled."