Trillanes: I embrace God’s will
If going back to jail is his destiny, then so be it.
Jailed for more than seven years during the time of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is again facing possible arrest for the non-bailable charge of coup d’ etat, which has been revived by incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte.
On Tuesday, the senator posted bail at the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 150 which ordered his arrest in connection with the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege.
But another court, the Makati RTC Branch 148 is expected to release its decision anytime on the coup d’ etat case lodged against him in connection with the 2003 failed Oakwood mutiny.
The two cases have been revived after the President issued Proclamation No 572, revoking the senator’s amnesty and ordering his arrest.
Worst case scenario
“I’ve psyched myself up for the worst case scenario,” Trillanes said in an interview at his office Wednesday night.
“Walang pwedeng Plan B kasi I’ve decided already early on na mag submit sa proseso,” he said.
After all, being in jail is not something new for him, having been detained in 2003 for leading a failed coup against then President Arroyo.
READ: WHAT WENT BEFORE: Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s amnesty
Looking back, however, Trillanes still considers his battle against the Arroyo regime far more difficult than what he is now going through under the Duterte administration.
“Mas mahirap yung laban noong panahon ni GMA (Arroyo’s initial). Kasi talagang ano kami ginawa namin yung struggle na yun from within the detention facility and it took us seven years bago nakalabas. Seven years and five months in my case,” he said.
“Ito lang kasi si Duterte mas ruthless siya at mas evil as a person kasi talagang wala syang hesitation na ipapatay yung mga kababayan natin na ito yung sinumpaan nya na paninilbihan nya. “But if it’s convenient for him to kill them, he will not hesitate,” he said.
Detention during Arroyo administration
During the time of Arroyo, who is now Speaker of the House of Representatives, Trillanes said they had no venue to ventilate their grievances as they were kept behind bars.
“Now, I’m an incumbent senator, mayroon akong platform. Mas naririnig ng mga kababayan natin ang ating mensahe. Mayroon akong venue to ventilate the grievances of the people , to expose anomalies,” he pointed out.
“Whereas during the time of GMA, we didn’t have that. We were basically incommunicado in the detention facility.”
The senator believes Duterte would not stop until he sees him in jail.
“Kelangan tuluyan nya (Duterte) ako because I will not go away,” he said. “Basta if I survive this episode I will make sure that he would be made accountable for his actions.”
“Ngayon, kung mag succeed man sya na iligpit ako in whatever form , then siguradong sigurado ako maraming papalit sa akin at ganun pa rin ang ending nun, mananagot at mananagot pa rin sya sa mga kasalanan nya.”
Difficult time for his family
While he has already prepared himself for the worst case scenario, Trillanes could not say the same for his family.
“Nai-imagine ko na talagang these are difficult moments for all of them,” he said, “But alam kung gaano ka importante itong pinaglalaban ko which is not only for them, but for the Filipino people.”
Given a choice, the senator said they would not want to go through this challenge.
In fact, he said, his family — his wife, Arlene, and their two children— were looking forward to his retirement from politics. His term in office will expire in 2019.
Plans after politics
Trillanes said that after his term, he plans to return back to school while doing some consultancy or NGO (non-government organization) work.
“Pero ito yung tadhanang ibinigay sa atin ng Dyos kaya kailangan nating tanggapin and I believe they (family) know also that the best thing they can do to help is maging matatag para sa kanilang sarili at para sa aming pamilya.”
“At ako naman I continue to pray for strength for all of them that they’d be able to get through this without being affected too much,” said the senator.
During the interview, the senator showed no trace of fear or worry as he even managed to laugh at some jokes.
Noting how he still managed to smile despite his situation, Trillanes said, “Oo naman. Sa akin kasi sabi ko nga, I’m a fatalist.”
“Yung pananaw ko sa buhay is you take the good with the bad. It’s not always good, it’s not always bad so you embrace the good and you embrace the bad.”
“But I feel assured knowing that this is God’s plan so I just embrace it,” he added. /muf
