Panelo changes tune: DOJ will file MR on Trillanes ruling

It’s the Department of Justice and not the Office of the Solicitor General.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo changed his tune a day after he said Solicitor General Jose Calida would go straight to the Court of Appeals to reverse the ruling of the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 denying the government’s petition to arrest Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

Panelo said Malacañang would let the DOJ do the administration’s next move against the ruling on Trillanes.

“Yes because it was the DOJ who filed the [motion],” Panelo said in a phone patch interview with reporters.

He said the DOJ would file a motion for reconsideration before the Makati RTC.

“If it’s denied, that’s the time the SolGen will take over,” he said.

In a Palace briefing on Tuesday, Panelo said Calida “will not file a motion for reconsideration, but go immediately to the Court of Appeals and appeal the ruling of the court.”

On Tuesday, Guevarra said the DOJ would not go straight to the Court of Appeals.

Panelo said Guevarra and Calida have already talked to each other.

Asked about the latest directive of the President, he said Duterte does not interfere with the moves of his legal team.

“Walang latest directive si Presidente. Di nakikialam si Presidente diyan palaging pinapabayaan niya ‘yung mga sangay magdesisyon. Ever since ganyan ang style niya,” he said.

But he said the President was aware of the developments on the case of Trillanes and the moves of the government.

“Siyempre palaging alam ni Presidente nagpapaalam dapat palagi yan,” he said.

“Everyone will have to ask advice either from me or directly to the President but mostly di na kailangan magpaalam kay Presidente. Kasi ang marching orders palagi do what is best for you to do,” he added.