Trillanes grateful to SC for showing ‘semblance of independence’

Despite the junking of his petition, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV remained “grateful” that the Supreme Court (SC) has shown “some semblance of independence” with its decision.

The SC has denied Trillanes’ petition, seeking to stop President Rodrigo Duterte’s proclamation that voided the amnesty granted to him by then former President Benigno Aquino III.

In the proclamation, Duterte also ordered Trillanes’ arrest.

“It was a carefully worded decision by the Supreme Court but we are grateful nonetheless that they showed some semblance of independence,” the senator said in a press briefing at the Senate.

“They could have outrightly dismissed the petition altogether but they knew that we presented a strong case and that the proclamation of Mr. Duterte is badly flawed, but nonetheless they gave him a face-saving way out,” he said.

As explained by his lawyers, Trillanes said the SC denied his petition but took judicial notice of the pronouncements of both Duterte and the Armed Forces of the Philippines that he would not be arrested without a warrant of arrest.

“So should I go out later or tomorrow and I would be arrested, then it would be in open defiance of such a decision,” said the senator.

Asked if he considers the SC’s decision an initial victory for him, Trillanes answered yes.

“Dahil alam n’yo itong Supreme Court was heavily suspected of being partial to the Duterte administration but this is the first time they showed some semblance of independence,” he said.

“They could have outrightly dismiss the whole petition altogether but they took a stand in some way so that’s good enough,” he added.

Trillanes has been holed up in the Senate since Tuesday last week, immediately after Duterte ordered his arrest. /jpv

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