MANILA – The camp of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV is hopeful to get the Supreme Court on its side over the controversial proclamation of President Rodrigo Duterte voiding the former’s amnesty.
Trillanes, through his lawyer Atty. Reynaldo Robles, has filed a petition for certiorari and challenged the constitutionality of Duterte’s Proclamation No. 572 before the high court on Thursday.
“We will question the constitutionality of the proclamation and the act of trying to arrest the senator without any valid warrant,” Robles said. “Walang karapatan ang Presidente to issue a warrant of arrest. That belongs to the judiciary.”
Robles added that there are some who are convincing them that filing a petition was just a waste of time with majority of the SC justices “siding with the administration” but he said it is worth a try.
“Naniniwala ako na ‘yung mga mahistrado ng Korte Suprema at mga huwes sa hukuman na kapag nakita nilang kung gaano kagrabe ‘yung ginawang pambabalahura sa Constitution natin. Sila ang kikilos para ipagtanggol ito,” Robles said.
“Also it will set a bad precedent if Senator Trillanes will be arrested without any case or basis since it is known naman na dinismiss na ang rebellion at coup d’etat case laban sa kanya,” he added.
Trillanes, in a press conference at the Senate early Thursday, warned the SC justices on making their verdict on his two petitions personal since the whole world will be keeping their eyes on them.
“Kung gagawin nilang personalan ‘yung decision nila, it will be up to them but the whole world will be watching kasi talagang butas-butas itong proklamasyon na ito at very very dangerous precedent if they will affirm it,” Trillanes said.
The embattled senator has also warned he will run after all those involved in Duterte’s move to have him arrested to face civilian and military courts with the forfeiture of his amnesty.
“Pagdating ng panahon, ‘pag wala na si Duterte, hahabaulin ko talaga sila if they insist dito sa ginagawa nilang kalokohan,” Trillanes said. “Ngayon kung magpapagamit kayo, ako talaga hahabulin ko ang mga ito. Kakaririn ko kayo.”
“Pati dito sa AFP, ako ‘wag na kayo sumawsaw dito. Pulitika ito, ginagamit lang kayo,” he added. “There are bigger messages here. We are talking about democratic institutions. We are talking about due process. We are talking about the rule of law.”
Duterte signed Proclamation No. 572 on Aug. 31 revoking the amnesty granted to Trillanes, saying the senator did not comply with the “minimum requirements to qualify under the amnesty proclamation.”
The President also ordered the arrest of Trillanes “so that he can be recommitted to the detention facility where he had been incarcerated for him to stand trial for crimes he is charged with.”/PN
