What dire consequences if Trillanes is tried again?

THERE are some among our citizenry who earnestly desire that Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th should stand trial for his various acts of rebellion against our duly constituted government and betrayal of his oath as a man in uniform.

There are also others who earnestly believe that putting him on trial again, after being granted amnesty by the previous administration of Benigno S. Aquino 3rd, is grossly unfair and an abuse of authority by the Duterte administration.

We think these contrary positions should come to a head and be settled in court.

The opportunity to do so may have arrived with the curious development that various front leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines have come out to support

Trillanes in his fight to avoid retrial.

This positioning of the Left on the side of Trillanes is striking because it was on account of a suspected alliance of forces of the communists, the Liberal Party and the Magdalo Party in what the Armed Forces tagged as a “Red October” plot to topple President Duterte.

The spirited defense of Trillanes by the Left may be indicative of the willingness by some of the suspect plotters to confirm the alliance themselves.

Former Bayan Muna party- list representative Neri Colmenares said granting the petition of the Department of Justice ( DoJ) to issue an arrest warrant against Trillanes would have serious implications on the country’s democratic system. Colmenares, speaking at a forum in the Universtiy of the Philippines campus on Saturday, said an unfavorable ruling on Trillanes would have legal complications for other individuals who were granted amnesty and rebels seeking amnesty.

At the same forum, Gabriela party- list Rep. Emmi De Jesus declared that with an adverse ruling on Trillanes, there would be no stopping President Duterte from running after his perceived enemies. This would also have political consequences, because other rebels would then have second thoughts about seeking amnesty if it could be voided by any incumbent President, she said.

Other opposition voices are also trying to link Trillanes’ case with that of Sen. Leila de Lima, who is in government custody on assorted illegal drugs charges.

At the general assembly of the International Parliamentary Union ( IPU), the cases of de Lima and Trillanes have been taken up in light of the alleged human rights violations committed against them by the Duterte government.

We believe these issues are best addressed head on in court, and not just through press statements.

The Left should have the opportunity to prove the dire consequences for the nation if Trillanes is tried again.

The IPU and the opposition should be given every opportunity to prove that the human rights of Trillanes and de Lima have been violated.

Statements do not count until they can stand up in court.

These issues are best addressed head on in court, and not just through press statements.