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

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