MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV called on Judge Elmo Alameda’s “sense of justice” in asking for a testimonial hearing to reverse the court’s earlier issuance of arrest against him.
Trillanes lawyer Reynaldo Robles is asking Alameda, judge of Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150, to set aside his September 25 ruling that granted the government’s plea for a warrant and travel ban against the senator.
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The DOJ opposed Trillanes’ motion, saying the court has “comprehensively and correctly ruled upon” their plea for warrant.
But the senator's lawyer, in urging the court to reconsider, said: “Former Accused Trillanes earnestly appeals to the sense of justice of the Honorable Court to grant his humble request to set this case for hearing for the proper presentation of evidence by the parties to prove their respective claims and assertion.”
They added that setting the hearing “is the least that the Honorable Court could do before it gives its final blessing to the re-opening of this case, a case which has been dead for nearly seven years.”
Alameda in September: Proclamation 572 has legal, factual basis
On September 25, Alameda ruled that Proclamation 572—that said that Trillanes’ amnesty is void from the beginning—has legal and factual basis.
The judge also said that Trillanes “failed to convince the Court that he indeed complied with the minimum requirement” in applying for amnesty.
“Evidently, he failed to present the original hard copy, duplicate copy, or even a photocopy showing that he personally accomplished and filed with the DND Amnesty Committee his Official Amnesty Application Form duly acknowledged and stamp marked received by said office,” the court order read.
Alameda’s ruling effectively reopened the rebellion case, over his involvement in the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege, against the senator.
Alameda, during the October 12 hearing on Trillanes' motion, said that the DOJ may file their Rejoinder on Trillanes' comment. After the pleading would be filed, the proceedings on the motion would be deemed submitted for resolution.