As arrest looms large, Trillanes forced to hunker down at Senate

After being told by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that he will still be arrested, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV decided to continue staying in the Senate.

“I was advised by some senators to stay here for the time being until ma-clarify kasi we’ve been trying to get categorical statements from the AFP na kung aarestuhin pa nila ako o hindi. Ang sagot ay arrestuhin pa raw ako,” Trillanes said on Tuesday.

While the Philippine National Police and the Department of Interior and Local Government are saying that he will not be arrested without a warrant of arrest, Trillanes said the AFP claims that the arrest order against him still stands.

“Yung sinasabi ni Duterte, that’s a trap,” Trillanes said, referring to President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement the government would wait for the court to issue a warrant of arrest on the senator.

The President’s assurance was cited by the Supreme Court on Tuesday when it junked Trillanes’ bid to stop the implementation of Duterte’s Proclamation 572 that voided his amnesty and ordered his arrest.

The senator has been holed up in the Senate since Duterte’s order to arrest him was announced earlier this month.

Asked who had informed him about the AFP’s claim he would still be arrested despite the SC’s decision, Trillanes said: “Based on direct engagements with them (AFP).”

“Kung ang sabi noong mga units na mag arresto ay arrestuhin ako, palagay ko maliwanag na yun. Ibig sabihin nun, hindi binababa yung order o walang planong ibaba,” he added.

READ: Trillanes fails to get relief from SC

After the SC announced its decision, Trillanes said he might consider leaving the Senate either this Tuesday night or Wednesday.   /vvp/ac

READ: Trillanes may go home Tuesday night or Wednesday