MANILA, Philippines—Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV denied getting special treatment while in military jail, saying he only managed “to secretly bring in mobile phones and laptops” against the wishes of his custodians.
Trillanes was reacting to House Minority Floor Leader Danilo Suarez’s statement that former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should also be allowed to use a laptop and mobile phone inside her detention in the Vetarans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC)—the same perks that were given to the then jailed senator.
“While I do not begrudge Representative Suarez for asserting Mrs. Arroyo’s right to serve as an elected representative of Pampanga, he should at least get his facts straight. Contrary to his claim, I was never declared guilty by any court of any offense,” Trillanes said in a statement on Sunday.
“Likewise, Mrs. Arroyo’s government did its best to make it difficult if not impossible for me to work while in detention. It is not true that they allowed me to use mobile phones and computers. They also banned me from receiving guests and holding committee hearings while under custody,” he pointed out.
Trillanes, who led a failed coup against the Arroyo government, was jailed from 2007 to 2010, or the first half of his six-year term as a senator.
“I was able to work because of sheer determination and persistence and because of the hard work of my staff. They brought documents to and from the Senate almost every day and found ways for me to stay in touch with my colleagues and constituents,” he said.
“Admittedly, there were a few times that we were able to secretly bring in mobile phones and laptops but it was against the wishes and not with the consent of my custodians. In fact, our quarters were regularly subjected to periodic searches because of that,” said the senator.
It was only upon the assumption of President Benigno Aquino III in July 2010, Trillanes said, when his custodians began relaxing the rules and allowed him to conduct Senate committee hearings at his place of detention.
Despite this, Trillanes backed Arroyo’s request to stay with the VMMC if it was true that she’s still sick.
“However, if she is already well, there is absolutely no reason she should be allowed to continue to stay at the hospital. That would clearly be giving her special treatment,” he added.