Trillanes contests amnesty revocation
MANILA — Senator Antonio Trillanes has challenged President Rodrigo Duterte's order to nullify the amnesty granted to him before the Supreme Court.
Trillanes, through his lawyer, yesterday filed a petition for certiorari, prohibition and injunction to challenge the constitutionality of Duterte's Proclamation 572.
The same proclamation made public on Tuesday, September 4, also ordered the Department of Justice and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to arrest Trillanes.
The senator sought the SC for the issuance of a halt order to enjoin government officials from “acting in their behalf and/ or under their orders from implementing Proclamation 572.”
Specifically, Trillanes' camp seeks that the court issue a temporary restraining order—as immediate relief—on the proclamation's clause that directs the Department of Justice and Armed Forces court-martial to pursue cases against the senator and apprehend him.
Named as respondents in the petition were: Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, AFP Chief of Staff General Carlito Galvez Jr., and Philippine National Police Chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde.
After hearing and due proceedings, Trillanes' team asks that the Proclamation 572 be declared as null and the preliminary injunction be considered as permanent.
Guevarra, also the government's officer-incharge while Duterte is abroad, said that a review of records showed that Trillanes failed to comply with the requirements for amnesty: to fill out the application form personally and the admission of guilt on the specific crime charged.
This claim, however, is contradicted by a video showing Trillanes filing the application form. In a press conference at the Senate before the filing, Trillanes also showed reporters documents from the Department of National Defense supporting his claim that he did file for an amnesty.