‘Trillanes case judge being pressured’

MANILA, Philippines — Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano bared yesterday that Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 148 Judge Andres Soriano is being pressured by the government with regard to the case of his ally, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

“We have information that the pressure on him is really intense,” Alejano said in Filipino at a news forum at the University of the Philippines Hotel in Quezon City.

Soriano is set to rule on the petition of the Department of Justice’s petition to issue an arrest warrant against Trillanes for his coup d’etat case over the Oakwood mutiny during the time of former president and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The government is pushing for Trillanes’ arrest after the President Duterte, on the prodding of Solicitor General Jose Calida, revoked his amnesty.

Alejano refused to give details on the supposed pressures that Soriano is receiving.

“We know that the current atmosphere is instilling fear among the people so that is where they are coming from – do not oppose us, do not step on us because we can always get back at you,” he said in Filipino.

However, Alejano expressed confidence that Soriano will not give in to pressure and will base his decision solely on the evidence presented by the prosecution and Trillanes’ camp.

Based on Soriano’s background, Alejano said the judge is an upright person.

“As far as we know and based on information that we have gathered, Judge is really upright. He is upright and he has faith in God and his work,” he said.

“All we want is for Judge Soriano and other judges to really look at the law and be fair,” Alejano said.

Unlike Makati RTC Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda who issued an arrest warrant against Trillanes over rebellion charges in connection with the Manila Peninsula siege also during the time of Arroyo for supposedly failing to present his application for amnesty, Soriano deferred the issuance of an arrest warrant against the senator to determine first whether he indeed filed for amnesty and admitted guilt for his offenses as ordered by the Supreme Court.

Soriano’s order prompted Trillanes to leave the Senate where he had sought sanctuary for several weeks following threats of arrest after his amnesty was revoked.

In his case before Alameda’s court, Trillanes posted P200,000 bail bond.