Makati Court judges pay courtesy call on CJ De Castro
Judges from the Makati Court, including the two judges handling the coup d’etat and rebellion cases against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, paid a courtesy call to Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo De Castro on Thursday.
Judge Andres Soriano of Branch 148, who is handling the coup d’ etat case, told reporters that nothing can be expected of the court within the day as he walked out of the courtroom.
“Hanggang (Until) next week,” he told reporters who asked when his ruling will be released.
“No, not today…Not within the day, no,” he said.
Makati RTC Branch 148 has submitted for resolution the motion filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the court to issue a warrant of arrest and a hold departure order for Trillanes, as well as revive the coup d’ etat case against the senator.
READ: Makati court wraps up Trillanes’ coup d’ etat case
The coup d’ etat case in connection with the 2003 Oakwood mutiny was dismissed in 2011 because of the amnesty granted to several Magdalo soldiers, including Trillanes, by then President Benigno Aquino III.
The court was already on the promulgation stage of the case.
Court and DOJ officials privy to the proceedings from the start said that retired Judge Oscar Pimentel, who originally handed the case, had prepared a 268-page decision as early as October 2010, but the promulgation was put on hold because of the amnesty.
READ: Makati court wraps up Trillanes’ coup d’ etat case
Meanwhile, Makati RTC Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda, who joined the courtesy call, had issued a warrant of arrest against the Trillanes, which effectively revived the rebellion case for his role in the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege.
With the revival of the the case, which was dismissed in 2011 because of the amnesty, the prosecution will have the opportunity to present evidence during the trial. /ee
READ: TIMELINE: The arrest of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV
READ: Trillanes: I embrace God’s will
