MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV is once again facing coup d’etat charges, as he did after participating in military adventurism during the Arroyo administration.
This time, Trillanes is accused of suggesting to the military to shoot President Duterte amid charges of hidden wealth during a privilege speech in the Senate last month.
A group of lawyers led by former congressmen Jacinto Paras and Glenn Chong filed the complaint against the vocal critic of Duterte for inciting to sedition, proposal to commit coup d’etat and graft before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office.
They cited as basis for the complaint the statement of Trillanes during his privilege speech that soldiers may shoot the President if the allegations of hidden wealth would be proven.
“Now, Mr. Duterte said he can be shot dead if there is P40 million in his accounts. He said that in front of the soldiers. So here’s the answer now. If the soldiers could see this, they will use an M60 machine gun on you. These are many. The magazines will be emptied if you’re looking for P40 million, Mr. Duterte,” the complaint quoted Trillanes as saying in Filipino.
The complainants alleged Trillanes committed “conspiracy or proposal to commit coup d’etat and inciting to sedition” for encouraging the military to go against the President and that he should be indicted under Articles 136 and 142 of the Revised Penal Code.
Trillanes, on the other hand, remained unfazed by the latest charges raised against him, which he said were meant to harass him and silence him in his crusade against President Duterte. – With Marvin Sy