Guevarra: If no HDO, let Trillanes travel abroad but…

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. DAPHNE GALVEZ / INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Monday that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV can travel abroad if there is no hold departure order (HDO) issued against him by the lower courts.

“My instruction to the Bureau of Immigration is clear: if there’s no HDO issued by any court, let Sen. Trillanes travel abroad,” Guevarra told reporters.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier asked several courts to stop Trillanes from travelling abroad because the senator has pending complaints for inciting to sedition before a Pasay court and Pasay Prosecutors Office.

READ: DOJ asks several courts to stop  Trillanes from leaving country 

Guevarra, however, pointed out it was in Trillanes’ “own lookout” if he would travel without the permission of Davao Regional Trial Court (RTC).

The Davao RTC is still hearing a motion from the DOJ to issue an HDO against Trillanes.

“The matter of getting the Davao Court’s permission to travel is between Sen. Trillanes and the court. If he travels without court permission, that is his own lookout,” the Justice Secretary said.

The senator is set for travel to Europe and the US from Dec. 11, 2018 to Jan. 12, 2019 and from Jan. 27 to Feb. 10, 2019 for various speaking engagements.

Last November, the Makati RTC Branch 150 has allowed Trillanes to travel abroad.

READ: Makati court allows Trillanes to travel 

On Monday, the Pasay Prosecutors’ Office withdrew its motion to issue a precautionary HDO against the senator.