AFP: Calida inquiry on Trillanes’ papers prompted amnesty review

Solicitor General Jose Calida and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV

It was an inquiry from Solicitor General Jose Calida that prompted the review of the amnesty given to Senator Antonio Trillanes IV that was revoked by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The official’s involvement was confirmed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo when asked by reporters who initiated the review of the senator’s amnesty papers that triggered a response from the military’s personnel unit.

“The Solicitor General did,” he told reporters in a press briefing on Tuesday.

Defense Spokesperson Dir. Arsenio Andolong, however, responded that he was not privy to the communication sent by Calida to the AFP.

Duterte revoked the amnesty granted to Trillanes by former President Benigno S. Aquino III through Proclamation 572 signed on August 31.

Part of the proclamation said Trillanes failed to file an application for amnesty and did not express admission of guilt over the Oakwood mutiny in 2003 and Manila Peninsula siege in 2007. It also cited a military certification that there was no available copy of the senator’s amnesty application from the records of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel or J1.

While a military certification has been issued, Andolong said they are still looking for the documents. /kga