Trillanes, 10 others face sedition charges

MANILA -- The Department of Justice has filed criminal charges of conspiracy to commit sedition against former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and several others before the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court in connection with their allegations linking President Rodrigo Duterte to the illegal drug trade.

Aside from Trillanes, also charged were Peter Joemel Advincula, the man who introduced himself as “Bikoy” in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos released during the 2019 election campaign period; Jonnel P. Sangalang, Yolanda Ong, Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, Fr. Albert E. Alejo, Vicente R. Romano III, film actor Joel Saracho, Eduardo Acierto, publicist Boom Enriquez, and a certain “Monique.”

The complaint alleged that Trillanes and the others are involved in “circulating malicious and scurrilous libels and fabricating evidence against him and his immediate family members, making it appear that the president and his family are engaged in a drug trade syndicate, with no other purpose but to inflict an act of hate or revenge against the president and his immediate family members.”

The charges were approved by Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento upon the recommendation of the panel of prosecutors led by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Olivia LarozaTorrevillas and Assistant State Prosecutors Michael John Humarang and Gino S. Paolo Santiago.