A “bigger test” for due process, democracy, and the Senate as an institution.
This was how Senator Grace Poe viewed on Tuesday the current state of opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who is facing arrest after his amnesty had been revoked by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Duterte has earlier issued Proclamation 572, revoking the amnesty granted to Trillanes by then President Benigno Aquino III.
“Ako’y nagpapasalamat at sinusuportahan ko ang liderato ng Senate President na dapat naman talaga ay patas din sa batas,” Poe told reporters when asked to comment on the issue.
She was apparently referring to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III’s decision not to allow the arrest of Trillanes within the Senate premises. Sotto’s decision was earlier adopted by all senators in a caucus last week.
Poe admitted being surprised by the seeming rush to arrest Trillanes even without a warrant of arrest from the court.
“Mabuti naman ang ating Pangulo ay nagbigay ng pronouncement, hintayin natin ang decision ng korte,” she said.
Since Tuesday last week, Trillanes has been holed up in the Senate despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s assurance that he would abide by the rule of law and would wait for the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the senator.
READ: Duterte wants no arrest for Trillanes unless court issues warrant — Palace
“Bilang kasamahan, ako’y nakikisimpatiya rin naman. Hindi naman porket nag-desisyon lang ang isang ano, wala namang final decision yung korte tapos ganyan,” Poe said.
Asked to assess the situation of Trillanes, Poe said: “I think it’s a bigger test also for our due process, democracy, and institution.”
“ It’s important that there should be the independence of the three branches of government and I think it’s right for the Senate President to be able to assert the dignity also of the Senate,” she added.
Poe shared the view of some of her colleagues that the decision on Trillanes’ amnesty would have an effect on those who were also granted the same amnesty.
“Magkakaroon ng question tungkol sa genuinness ng mga dokumento na yun di ba? Baka later on balewala na yung epekto ng nga amensty na ganun,” she pointed out. /vvp