Trillanes opts to stay in Senate despite absence of arrest warrant

Upon the advice of lawyers and the Senate leadership, Senator Antonio Trillanes has decided to stay with the Senate despite the continued absence of a warrant of arrest against him.

“Ang advice sa akin ng mga lawyers and the Senate leadership, huwag naming padaliin,” Trillanes said in an interview at the Senate on Wednesday.

“If we’re going to question the validity of the presidential declaration particularly the provisions involving the warrantless arrest, then kelangang hindi ako magve-venture out,” he said.

The senator was referring to President Rodrigo Duterte’s proclamation that voided the amnesty granted to Trillanes by then President Benigno Aquino III.

Using the proclamation, the senator said, the military and the police have been directed to arrest him with or without a warrant of arrest.

He noted how the arresting officers had been immediately deployed to the Senate even before the Department of Justice applied for an arrest warrant at a Makati City court.

“Afterthought na lang yung application ng warrant…” said Trillanes.

When told about Justice Menardo Guevarra’s statement that he is still a free man without a warrant of arrest, Trillanes reiterated the advice of his lawyers.

READ: Guevarra: Trillanes is still a free man

“Kelangang ma-negate itong kanilang proclamation at makuha ‘yung assurances from these people,” he added. /je