Voiding of Trillanes’ amnesty a way to divert attention from PH problems — Robredo

Vice President Leni Robredo said the revocation of the amnesty given to Senator Antonio Trillanes IV as could be part of a plan of the current administration to distract the public from its alleged shortcomings.

In a statement on Tuesday after news broke that Trillanes would remain inside the premises of the Senate, Robredo said some of the issues hounding the administration include the high prices of goods, rice shortage, the weakening of the economy, corruption allegations, and the worsening traffic.

“Ginagamit ito ng administrasyon upang ibaling ang atensyon ng publiko mula sa mga kakulungan nito sa pagtugon sa mga problemang pumipilay sa ating bayan,” the Vice President said.

She added that the government should do away with politicking and address problems first.

“Walang lugar ang pamumulitika sa panahong nahaharap ang karamihan ng ating mga kababayan sa malalalim na problema tulad ng gutom, kahirapan, at kakulangan ng trabaho,” Robredo claimed.

“Bilang mga hinalal na opisyal ng pamahalaan, ipinagkatiwala sa atin ang kapangyarihan para humanap na solusyon, at hindi para magsulong ng personal na interes,” she noted.

On Tuesday morning, Malacañang released Proclamation 572, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on August 31, dissolving the amnesty given to Trillanes by former President Benigno Aquino III.

The amnesty was for cases filed against him, in relation to the mutinies in 2003 and 2007, during the term of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

READ: Duterte revokes Trillanes amnesty, orders his arrest

According to Robredo, the move is merely an attack against the administration’s critics, in an effort to silence them.

“Ang desisyon ng Palasyo na ideklarang void ang amnestiyang binigay kay Senator Antonio Trillanes IV ay isa namang patunay na gagawin ng administrasyong ito ang lahat para patahimikin ang sinumang kumokontra rito,” she claimed.

“Ang mga pag-atakeng ito ay hindi lamang nagbubuhat ng pagkakawatak-watak at kawalan ng pag-asa sa ating sambayanan. Tinatapakan nito ang mga mismong demokratikong proseso na nagpapatatag at nagpapalakas sa ating bayan,” she added.

Earlier, Trillanes said that he was placed under the custody of Senate President Vicente Sotto III. He said that supposed crackdown on him is backed by Duterte himself and Solicitor General Jose Calida

READ: Trillanes now under custody of Senate President Sotto

She also asked the administration to stop wasting government resources and recognize the amnesty given to Trillanes.

“Hinihimok natin ang administrasyon na kilalanin ang binigay na amnestiya kay Senator Trillanes, agarang itigil ang pagsasayang ng pera at oras ng taumbayan sa mga alitang walang katuturan,”

“Sa halip ay pagtuonan ng pansin ang mga pangangailangan ng sambayanang Pilipino.” she added.   /vvp