No arrest for Trillanes until September 13

OPPOSITION Senator Antonio Trillanes IV will not be arrested until the Makati Regional Trial Court issues an arrest warrant against him.

Malacañang announced Friday, September 7, that President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to abide by the rule of law and wait for the court to issue an arrest warrant against Trillanes.

The Makati RTC Branch 148 is scheduled to hold a hearing on September 13 on the Justice department’s request for the issuance of an alias warrant and hold departure against Trillanes.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said the President made the decision when he met with the Cabinet members who joined him in his Jordan trip on Thursday, September 6.

“At matapos po ang mahabang talakayan, nagdesisyon ang Presidente that he will abide by the rule of law. Hihintayin po niya ang desisyon ng hukuman ng Regional Trial Court kung sila ay mag-iissue ng warrant of arrest [against Trillanes],” Roque said in a press conference in Amman, Jordan.

(After a thorough discussion, the President decided that he will abide by the rule of law, He will await the decision of the Regional Trial Court if it will issue a warrant of arrest [against Trillanes].)

“Ang desisyon ng Presidente (The President’s decision) is he will allow the judicial process to proceed and he will await the issuance of appropriate warrant of arrest, if there is indeed one to be issued before Senator Trillanes is arrested and apprehended,” Roque said.

Duterte had ordered the arrest of Trillanes through Proclamation Order 572, which he signed on August 31.

This proclamation declared the amnesty granted to Trillanes as void from the very beginning for the latter’s alleged failure to submit an official amnesty application and admit guilt in trying to topple the Arroyo government.

The proclamation also directed the Department of Justice and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Court Martial to pursue the administrative and criminal charges against Trillanes.

Trillanes has been holed up in his office at the Senate since Proclamation 572 was made public on Tuesday, September 4, to avoid arrest.

The Senate leadership has declared that Trillanes could not be arrested while he is within the Senate premises.

Trillanes has presented to the media documents showing that he had filed an application for amnesty and admitted guilt to disprove the allegations under Proclamation 572.

The senator, through his legal counsel, has also challenged the constitutionality of the proclamation before the Supreme Court.

Rumors that he was going to be arrested started circulating Thursday night. (Ruth Abbey Gita/ SunStar Philippines)