Pangilinan says case filed vs Trillanes is ‘pure political harassment’
Senator Francis ‘Kiko” Pangilinan branded on Friday as “pure political harassment” the case of inciting to sedition lodged against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party, and Trillanes are both part of the minority bloc in the Senate.
“This is pure political harassment,” Pangilinan said in a text message.
“From Day 1 this administration has shown its intolerance towards dissent and criticism from the opposition and those who disagree with its policies and this case is part of its efforts to silence and stifle dissent.”
“It is anti-democratic and a threat to our freedoms and our democratic rights,” the senator added.
A Pasay City court has found probable cause to charge Trillanes with inciting to sedition , which stemmed from a privilege speech he delivered in October last year in connection with President Rodrigo Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth .
“Kung makikita ito ng mga sundalo, M-60 ang gagamitin sa’yo kasi marami-rami ito. Mauubos ‘yung magasin, kung P40 million ‘yung hinahanap mo,” the senator said in the speech.
READ: Trillanes: I’m not afraid, I’ll face inciting to sedition case
Trillanes vowed to face the case as he maintained that he did not “incite anyone to do anything.”
“Maliwanag na baluktot at panggigipit itong kasong ito na nakabase sa privilege speech ko sa Senado na bukod na sa merong constitutionally guaranteed immunity from suit, ay wala akong inincite na kung sino to do anything,” he said in a statement Thursday.
“It’s clear that this is case is warped and it’s based on my privilege speech in the Senate which besides having constitutionally guaranteed immunity from suit, I’m also not inciting anyone to do anything.) /muf
