SC to tackle Trillanes amnesty tomorrow

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) is set to tackle tomorrow the petition of embattled Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV questioning President Duterte’s Proclamation No. 572 that voided his amnesty.

An insider revealed the case would be included in the agenda of the justices during their regular full-court session.

“The Court may either decide on the prayer for a TRO (temporary restraining order) or first seek comment from the respondents,” the source explained to The STAR.

The source revealed Trillanes’ petition was raffled to Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta.

The insider bared the case was assigned to Peralta only last Friday afternoon after the raffle “so he was not able to go through it and immediately submit a recommendation on the TRO prayer.”

The camp of Trillanes also did not file an urgent motion for raffle when they filed the petition last Thursday, Sept. 6, so the SC did not treat his case with urgency, the source pointed out.

“Also the Court is in session so all actions are decided upon by the en banc (collegially), unlike when it is in recess when the Chief Justice may issue a TRO upon recommendation of the member-in-charge,” the source added.

Duterte’s order to arrest Trillanes on a purportedly flawed amnesty grant has sparked a legal debate. Some legal experts have questioned whether Duterte can invalidate a rebel amnesty declared by a previous president and approved by legislators.

Despite questions on Duterte’s move, the defense department said it had deployed officers to the Senate to take custody of Trillanes, who would be made to face a military court inquiry over alleged misconduct for his role in past uprisings. – With Michael Punongbayan, Edith Regalado