State prosecutors have asked a Davao City court to cancel the bail posted by Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes IV and issue arrest warrants against him for his failure to seek permission to travel abroad.
Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Joseph Mamburam sought this in a manifestation and motion he filed before Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 54 where the senator is facing libel charges.
“Wherefore, it is respectfully prayed of this Honorable Court that this manifestation be noted and that accused’ bail be cancelled,” Mamburam said in his pleading.
Mamburam adopted the motion filed by the lawyers of former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, the son of President Duterte.
In Paolo Duterte’s urgent motion, his lawyers explained that after Trillanes posted bail last Dec. 10, the senator left for abroad the next day on Dec. 11 “without prior leave or permission from this court.”
“Consequently, accused’ bail should now be formally canceled, and his re-arrest immediately ordered to restore this court’s jurisdiction over his person,” the lawyers said.
His counsels pointed out that posting bail showed that Trillanes “voluntarily placed himself under the jurisdiction and custody of the court, and the law.”
They stressed that bail “does not grant absolute freedom and liberty” and “merely suspends the efficacy of the arrest warrant.”
“Whilst under custodia legis, accused is duty bound not to frustrate this court’s jurisdiction and reach over him. He could not unilaterally place himself beyond it,” they said.
“Accused therefore must at all times be within the jurisdiction of this court as inherent condition of his bail,” it added. (Jeffrey Damicog)
