Senator Antonio Trillanes’ legal counsel has alleged that the proclamation revoking the amnesty is inconsistent as there is a big difference between “void ab initio” and “revoked.”
“Nakita natin na nagsinungaling sila dito sa mismong (proclamation). Iyong sinasabi nilang void ab initio, ang nakalagay sa proclamation ay revocation (We’ve seen here that they were lying. The proclamation states that it is a revocation),” lawyer Reynaldo Robles said in an interview on Thursday after he filed a petition against the “revocation” of the senator’s amnesty.
‘Pag sinabi mong revocation, it was valid, and then you’re trying to nullify it. Ngayon sinasabi nila void ab initio. Bakit void ab initio (If you say revocation, it is valid, and you’re trying to nullify it. Now, they are saying it’s void ab initio. Anong reason (What is the reason)? Nag-apply iyong tao, inaprubahan, in fact inimplement, dinismiss lahat ng kaso (He applied for amnesty, and it was approved. In fact, it was implemented. The cases were dismissed),” he added.
In legal parlance, the term “void ab initio” refers to contracts or decisions that never had legal validity, or were void from the beginning.
Robles said Trillanes’ situation is similar to ordinary government transactions such as obtaining identification cards, where it is not necessary for applicants to keep a copy of their application forms.
‘Pag nag-apply ba tayo ng passport, tinatago niyo iyong application? ‘Pag nag-apply tayo ng marriage license (If we apply for a passport or a marriage license, do we keep the application forms)?” he asked.
“Eh delikado pala kayo diyan baka marami sa inyo hindi na kasal, baka void ab initio iyong kasal niyo (This is dangerous. Who knows if your marriage is still valid? Who knows if its void ab initio)?” he said in jest.
On a more serious note, Robles reiterated that efforts to put the senator in jail are just attempts to silence him.
“Alam natin na (We know that) Senator Trillanes is being specifically targeted by the administration. This is political harassment, pure and simple,” he noted. /ee