DOJ asks several courts to stop Trillanes from leaving the country

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has asked several courts to stop Senator Antonio Trillanes IV from travelling abroad, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra confirmed Thursday.

Trillanes will travel to Europe and the US from December 11, 2018 to January 12, 2019 and from January 27 to February 10, 2019 for various speaking engagements.

Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 150 has granted Trillanes’ request subject to certain conditions, including posting a P200,000-travel bond.

READ: Makati court allows Trillanes to travel to Europe, US

“It just so happens that there are other cases pending against Senator Trillanes. Some for inciting to sedition and some for libel. These are pending elsewhere in other regional trial courts and the prosecution has the right to file a motion for the issuance of a hold departure order in those courts,” Guevarra said.

Trillanes has pending complaints for inciting to sedition before a Pasay court and Pasay Prosecutors Office.

Guevarra said it is not about Trillanes per se.

He said filing an opposition to a respondent or accused’s move to travel abroad is a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the prosecutors.

Guevarra said one of the motions will be heard on Friday, referring to a hearing set by a Davao court where Trillanes has a pending libel complaint filed by former Davao City Vice Mayor and presidential son Paolo Duterte.

Makati RTC Branch 150 will also hear DOJ’s motion for reconsideration on its order allowing Trillanes to travel.

When asked about the timing, Guevarra said: “I would say that that is merely coincidental.” /kga