By GENALYNKABILING
IT will be back to the police detention facility for Senator Antonio Trillanes IV after President Duterte has revoked the amnesty granted to him in connection with two attempts to overthrow the Arroyo administration.
In Proclamation No. 572, the President declared the amnesty given to Trillanes in 2010 as “void ab initio” since he failed to apply for such amnesty and did not admit guilt for the crimes committed.
“The grant of amnesty to former LTSG Antonio Trillanes IV under Proclamation No. 75 is declared void ab initio because he did not comply with the minimum requirements to qualify under the Amnesty Program,” the proclamation read.
As a consequence, the President has authorized the arrest and prosecution of Trillanes for his involvement in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny and the 2007 Manila Peninsula Hotel siege against the administration of then President Gloria Arroyo.
Duterte ordered the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) “to pursue all criminal and administrative cases” against Trillanes in relation to the two incidents.
The Philippine National Police and the AFP have also been directed “to employ all lawful means to apprehend” Trillanes “so he could be recommitted to the detention facility where he had been incarcerated for him to stand trial for the crimes he is charged with.”
In 2010, then President Aquino issued Proclamation No. 75 granting amnesty to active and former military and policemen and their supporters involved in the Oakwood mutiny, Marines stand-off in 2006, and the Manila Peninsula incident.
Trillanes, a former Navy officer detained for seven years at the PNP custodial center pending his trial, was among the officers allowed to walk free by Aquino.
In the latest proclamation, Duterte however pointed out that Trillanes did not file an official amnesty proclamation form required to avail of the program. “There is no available copy of his application for amnesty in the records,” the proclamation read.
The same proclamation also noted that Trillanes “never expressed his guilt for the crimes that were committed on the Oakwood Mutinty and Peninsula Manila Hotel Siege.
“Despite former LTSG Trillanes IV’s failure to apply for amnesty and refusal to admit his guilt, his name was nonetheless included among those granted amnesty pursuant to DND (Department of National Defense) Ad Hoc Committee Resolution No. 2 approved by former Secretary of National Defense Voltaire T. Gazmin,” it said.
‘Malaking kalokohan,’ embattled senator cries
SENATOR Antonio Trillanes IV yesterday criticized Malacañang’s move to issue Proclamation No. 572 revoking the amnesty granted to him by the Aquino government in January 2010, saying it was a clear case of political persecution.
Trillanes refuted the allegations hours before he started the Senate formal investigation into the alleged conflict of interest committed by Solicitor General Jose Calida when his private security company was able to snare more than P150-million in contracts with the government.
According to Trillanes, he would not be given amnesty if he was unable to comply with the requirements and filing an application form for amnesty.
The former navy lieutenant also said he also admitted his involvement in the unsuccessful attempts to overthrow the Arroyo administration in the July 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, the February 2006 Marines stand-off and the November 2007 Manila Peninsula siege.
“Ito ay isang malaking kalokohan. Alam nyo. di naman ako bibigyan ng amnesty kung di ako nag-comply sa mga requirements. Sumumpa ako kay former Secretary of Defense Voltaire Gazmin at mapapatotohanan yan ng mga DND (Department of National Defense) officials,” Trillanes told reporters in an interview before the hearing.
“So absolutely complied lahat yan. Yung mga kaso sa civilian courts na-dismiss siya. So ngayon, ano ngayun ang magigign basis ng pag aresto?” Trillanes asked.
Trillanes explained that the granting of an amnesty is an act of Congress and cannot be superseded by an Executive Order.
“Hindi mo pwedeng bawiin ang amnesty. Ano bay un? I was already subjected to that nung nag try ako tapos na dismiss. Ano ngayon, uulitin yun? Ano bay an? Magpaturo nga sila sa mga law students,” he pointed out. (Hannah Torregoza)
