AFP leaves to courts Galvez’s remarks on Trillanes amnesty

It is up to the courts to consider the statements made by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Carlito Galvez admitting that Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV did apply for amnesty.

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo yesterday said the statements made during the Senate hearing on the military’s budget for next year added to the sworn affidavit of Col. Josefa Berbigal that Trillanes had personally applied for amnesty in 2011.

Berbigal, former head of the secretariat of the amnesty committee, said the former mutineer personally submitted the application form to her.

During the Senate hearing, Galvez admitted Trillanes had applied for amnesty but some documents related to his application have gone missing due to some “lapses.”

“It’s akin to the affidavit executed by Col. Josefa Berbigal attesting that Sen. Trillanes IV applied for amnesty,” Arevalo told reporters yesterday.

“However, we (AFP) defer to the wise discretion of the court to where the case has been submitted as to how it will appreciate that statement,” Arevalo stressed.

He said the AFP will no longer comment on the issue, considering that the matter is now before the Makati City regional trial court.

“And since that may bear on the merits of the case, we will not issue further statement with due regard to the sub judice rule,” Arevalo said.