Law 'catching up' with Trillanes, Panelo says

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday said that a Makati court upholding its warrant against Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV shows that the law is “catching up” with him.

“It should dawn on the departing senator and to others who are prone to challenge the majesty of the law that it is no respecter of anyone regardless of the political and social status of the violator,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 rejected Trillanes’ plea to reverse the issuance of a warrant against him.

Judge Elmo Alameda said in his order that he is “not persuaded” that the court needs to allow the reception of evidence to rule on the factual issues in the case, which covered whether he applied for amnesty granted in 2011 and whether he admitted guilt, a requirement for the amnesty.

Last September 25, the court granted the government's plea for the issuance of a warrant and travel ban against Trillanes as it held that he “failed to convince the Court that he indeed complied with the minimum requirement” in applying for amnesty.

Alameda had a different appreciation of some of the evidence presented to him from Makati RTC Branch 148 Judge Andres Soriano, who also upheld his earlier decision to junk the government’s plea for warrant against Trillanes. Branch 148 found that the senator applied for amnesty and admitted guilt.

But Panelo said that the senator “must still come to grips with the criminal transgressions he committed as an ingrate and renegade military officer.”

“He may have succeeded in evading his accountability before the law but the law is not catching up on him,” the Palace spokesman added.

“What’s happening to him should strike fear in the hearts of those who after being financed by taxpayers’ money for their education will plot against the government that nurtured them as well as those who use their political power to shield them from accountability as they malign and sow intrigues against persons they dislike even inciting the citizenry to hate duly constituted authorities,” Panelo also said, suggesting that government subsidies should be repaid with loyalty to government.

Trillanes is a graduate of the state-run Philippine Military Academy.

EXPLAINER: Trillanes amnesty: Two courts and two rulings that may meet at SC

Trillanes is out on bail but with Judge Alameda’s affirmation of his earlier decision, the trial would continue. The prosecution is set to present its evidence on the rebellion case against him.

Trillanes camp may run to higher court

Lawyer Reynaldo Robles, Trillanes’ legal counsel, said that they are looking into bringing the Makati court’s issuing of the warrant to a higher court.

In a statement, Robles said that they have yet to read Judge Alameda’s order.

“We will consider the possibility of appealing or questioning the ruling before the higher courts,” he said while refusing to comment on the merits of the decision without reading it first.

Trillanes has a pending appeal challenging the constitutionality of Proclamation 572 before the Supreme Court. He failed to secure temporary relief as the SC did not issue a halt order on the proceedings at the lower courts.

The court ordered the government to answer Trillanes’ plea.