‘Somebody gave in’ to Duterte admin’s pressure – Alejano

Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano. INQUIRER.net file photo / RYAN LEAGOGO

“Somebody gave in to the pressure of the Duterte administration.”

This was the reaction of Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano on the order of Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 150 allowing the arrest of the Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, the fiercest critic of the Duterte administration.

READ: Arrest Trillanes – Makati court

“May bumigay sa pressure ng administrayon na ito dahil maliwanag na before you can even issue a warrant of arrest you have to go through three stages. You have first to revive the case, and before you can revive the case the amnesty needs to be revoked,” Alejano said in a briefing moments after the release of the arrest warrant against Trillanes.

“Kung nagbigay sila ng warrant of arrest maliwanag na na-revoke ‘yung amnesty, na kung saan hindi ito unilateral action ng Presidente,” he continued.

READ: Revocation of Trillanes’ amnesty needs Congress approval — solons

But Alejano said he and the Magdalo group would continue to believe in democracy and the legal process.

“But I will continue to believe in our democracy. Sundan natin ‘yung legality at mapakita natin na mayroon talagang panggigipit sa oposisyon dahil at the end of the day ang katotohanan ay hindi po matatalo,” he said.

Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman meanwhile expressed his disbelief that an “obliterated case” could prompt the release of an arrest warrant.

“Ito ay parang kwento ni Senator De Lima. But there is a difference here, hindi ko malaman kung paano nabuhay ‘yung kasong obliterated na. That is the language of the amnesty result, the effect of amnesty, obliteration of the charges,” Lagman said.

Trillanes is facing rebellion charges before Makati RTC Branch 150 but it was dismissed after then-President Benigno S. Aquino III granted amnesty for the former navy officer.

However, President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation 572 last August 30 revoking Trillanes’ amnesty and ordering for his arrest. Duterte, in his order, claimed that Trillanes’ amnesty was void ab initio because the senator failed to submit an application for it and did not admit his guilt over two failed mutinies.

Trillanes has denied these claims and maintained that the grant of his amnesty went through the process. /kga

READ: Trillanes presents proof he applied for amnesty | Court documents show cases vs Trillanes, et al. dismissed in 2011

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