Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV (File photo by BULLIT MARQUEZ / AP)
MANILA, Philippines — The law is now “catching up” on Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Malacañang said Tuesday, after a Makati court denied his petition over his arrest following the revocation of his amnesty.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Trillanes’ retribution is finally “knocking at his door.”
In a decision on December 18, 2018 but released to the media only on Monday, Judge Elmo Alamaeda of the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 upheld his September 25 ruling to issue a warrant of arrest against the senator.
READ: Court sustains arrest warrant issued vs Trillanes
Alameda said, “Sen. Trillanes was not able to prove through testimonial and documentary evidence that he filed his application for amnesty nor expressly admitted his guilt in the application form for the crime he committed during the Manila Peninsula incident which are the minimum requirements set forth under Proclamation No. 75.”
“The Palace respects this decision of the trial court in finding sufficient grounds to deny Senator Trillanes’ motion for reconsideration,” Panelo said in a statement.
“While currently at liberty after posting bail,” Panelo said “Trillanes must still come to grips with the criminal transgressions he committed as an ingrate and renegade military officer.”
“He may have succeeded in evading his accountability before the law but the law is now catching up on him,” Panelo said.
“It should dawn on the departing Senator and to others who are prone to challenge the majesty of the law that it is no respecter of anyone regardless of the political and social status status of the violator,” he added.
“Senator Trillanes’ comeuppance,” according to the spokesman, “is finally knocking at his door, and he can only blame himself for the situation he embroiled himself in for he created his own quagmire.
“What’s happening to him should strike fear in the hearts of those who after being financed by the taxpayers’ money for their education will plot against the government that nurtured them as well as those who use their political power to shield them from accountability as they malign and sow intrigues against persons they dislike even inciting the citizenry to hate duly constituted authorities,” Panelo added. /je