Trillanes seeks Makati court’s nod to travel to Europe, US

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV (File photo by EDWIN BACASMAS / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has asked the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 150 to allow him to travel abroad in Europe and the US.

In his motion, Trillanes sought the court’s permission to travel from Dec. 11, 2018 to Jan. 12, 2019 and from Jan. 27 to Feb. 10, 2019.

Trillanes’ counsel Atty. Reynaldo Robles said the senator was invited by various groups to attend several activities in Amsterdam, Barcelona, and London from Dec. 11, 2018 to Jan. 11, 2019.

On Jan. 27 to Feb. 10, 2019, the senator will be meeting with officials from various groups, organizations, and institutions in California, Washington D.C., and Maryland in the US.

He attached in his motion a travel order signed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

Trillanes requested the court’s permission because Makati RTC Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda had issued a hold departure order against him following the issuance of a warrant of arrest.

The Senator is currently on temporary liberty after posting bail for the charges of rebellion.

“As shown by his past actions, particularly by the fact that he voluntarily surrendered and posted bail in the instant case immediately upon the issuance of the warrant of arrest in the case, as well as by the fact that he has always returned to the country as committed in the instances he was permitted by the courts to travel abroad…herein former accused is not a flight risk,” read the motion.

The Makati Court’s ruling honoring the cancellation of amnesty of Trillanes is still subject of a motion for reconsideration.

Trillanes is facing a case of rebellion for the Manila Peninsula siege in 2007. /je/ac