Trillanes stays put in Senate after SC ruling
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. INQUIRER PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday said he would stay in the Senate building because of statements from Malacañang and information he received from the military that he would be arrested following the Supreme Court ruling.
Trillanes said he was also advised by his fellow senators from both the minority and the majority to remain in the Senate building.
He said he had a “direct engagement” with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and was told that the order to arrest him remained.
The Supreme Court recognized the military’s statement that it was deferring court-martial proceedings against Trillanes until the courts could settle the controversy over the amnesty granted to the senator as a military rebel in 2011.
Trillanes said, however, that the military had not categorically said whether it would arrest him.
He also noted Malacañang’s statement on Tuesday that the Supreme Court ruling meant there was no more legal impediment to the enforcement of Proclamation No. 572.
Earlier, Trillanes began considering going home after the ruling came down.
‘Carefully worded decision’
The court showed “some semblance of independence” with its “carefully worded decision” that allowed the President to save face, he said.
Trillanes said the bottom line of his petition was to stop his arrest, and the government took back its order before the Supreme Court could hand down a decision.
The court mooted his petition for a preliminary injunction or a temporary restraining order, but the effect was still the same, he added.
Public commitment
Trillanes’ lawyer Rey Robles said the Supreme Court ruling made it clear that there was a public commitment by the President not to have Trillanes arrested without a court-issued warrant.
“There were instances in the past that promises have been broken, things that were said were taken back. Sometimes they would say that it’s a joke, that’s why we chose not to allow Senator Trillanes to go home in the meantime. Now, it’s the Supreme Court saying there is a public commitment. If they still defy this, it means nothing is respected in our country,” Robles said.
It’s not over
While grateful for the Supreme Court decision, Trillanes said his fight was far from over.
“This ordeal is not yet over by any stretch of the imagination. The Duterte administration is hell-bent on putting me away in whatever form. But nonetheless, I am very, very grateful to all those who have been with us physically here, those who spent a lot of time joining the vigil outside and those extending their prayers all over the world for my safety and the well-being of our democracy,” he said.
