Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chair Chito Gascon on Tuesday said they would look into the revocation of the amnesty granted to opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
“Pag-aaralan po namin ‘yung mga implikasyon nito. Ang sa alam po namin, bilang isang constitutional office, meron pong mga rekisito sa pagbigay ng amnesty, ang mga proseso dyan at mga aspeto nyan ay sang-ayon din po sa Saligang Batas (We are going to study the implication of this issue. We know that as a constitutional office, there are restrictions in the grant of amnesty. The processes there must be in accordance with the Constitution),” Gascon said in an ambush interview after CHR’s budget defense at the House of Representatives.
Gascon also said he hopes that the rights of Trillanes would be observed throughout the entire proceeding, as he also believes that an amnesty, once granted, could not be revoked.
“So umaasa kami na ang mga karapatan po ni Senator Trillanes ay mapangalagaan sa proseso… Dahil kung minsan ka nang nagbigay ng amnesty, at tinaggap po ito eh dapat po tapos na ‘yan (We are hoping that Senator Trillanes’ rights will be respected because if you were granted an amnesty it should be a done deal),” he added.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation 572 on Aug. 31 revoking the senator’s amnesty granted by former president Benigno Aquino III in 2010 through Proclamation 75.
The Constitution provides that an amnesty proclamation requires the concurrence of both Houses of Congress, and both chambers concurred with Aquino’s proclamation back then.
READ: Duterte revokes Trillanes amnesty, orders his arrest
Trillanes led the Oakwood Mutiny in 2003 to oppose then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration amid corruption controversies. He also participated in the Manila Peninsula siege to call for Arroyo’s ouster in 2007. /ee
READ: ‘Kalokohan’ – Trillanes on Duterte amnesty revocation
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