Trillanes posts bail in 2007 hotel siege case

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV posted P150,000 bail before the Makati regional trial court (RTC) yesterday for the rebellion case filed against him in connection with his alleged participation in the 2007 hotel standoff in Makati City.

Trillanes, through his lawyer Reynaldo Robles, posted bail before the sala of Makati RTC Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda.

“Trillanes has posted bail in an anticipation of the possibility that the court will allow him to attend the opening of the regular session of the Senate on June 26,” Robles said.

In a related development, President Aquino ordered yesterday a thorough review of the rebellion charges against Trillanes in connection with the Oakwood mutiny seven years ago.

The President expressed belied that injustice was committed when prosecutors claimed to have probable cause in the offense and recommended the filing of charges against Trillanes and over a hundred soldiers who participated in the mutiny at the Oakwood Premiere Hotel on July 27, 2003.

“My opinion is and that is just my individual opinion, the fiscal should not have let that case prosper,” Mr. Aquino told reporters. He said he ordered Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to conduct a thorough review of the case.

The President said he is reiterating his position: “Trillanes first got incarcerated by virtue of the charge of committing a coup d’etat or participating in a coup d’etat. However when you review the Revised Renal Code, there’s a provision that says coup d’etat – how committed, it says swift violent attack then it has an enumeration.”

Mr. Aquino said the enumeration of the crime of coup d’etat does not include a hotel. He said “the elements for coup d’etat are lacking. There seems to have been an injustice. The result is the other charge of rebellion.”

But the President admitted that Trillanes and other soldiers committed an injustice when they left a court hearing in Makati City and marched towards the Manila Peninsula on Nov. 29, 2007. In both incidents at the Oakwood and Manila Peninsula hotels, Trillanes and his groups denounced the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“That (Manila Peninsula seige) would not have happened if there was justice in the first case, so I’ve asked her (De Lima) to review it thoroughly,” Mr. Aquino added. “I understand they will be taking a position that they will leave it up to court to decide on the petition of Sen. Trillanes with regards to participation in organizing the Senate come the start of session.”

Seeking to exercise Senate duties

Robles earlier filed a petition before the sala of Makati RTC Branch 148 Judge Oscar Pimentel, who is handling the coup d’etat case against Trillanes, to allow his client to attend the opening of the Senate’s regular session on July 26 and meet his staff at the Senate on the same date.

The coup d’etat case against Trillanes and the other junior officers of the military belonging to the Magdalo group stemmed from their takeover of the Oakwood Premiere Hotel.

Robles said he does not see any reason for the Makati RTC Branch 148 to junk Trillanes’ motion to be allowed to attend the Senate’s regular session. 

“We don’t see any reason for the court not to allow Sen. Trillanes to attend the Senate’s regular session like what they did to former ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) governor Nur Misuari who was allowed to leave his detention in many instances,” Robles said. 

The panel of prosecutors from the Department of Justice has opposed Trillanes’ motion.

Alameda earlier allowed Trillanes and his other co-accused, such as Marine Capt. Gary Alejano and former Navy Lt/Sg. James Layug, in the rebellion case to post bail.

Trillanes, Alejano and Layug were considered leaders of the Magdalo group whose members took over the Oakwood hotel in Makati.

“The participation of Sen. Trillanes in the senate session on July 26 is particularly crucial in the light of the fact that only 21 out of the 24 duly elected senators will most probably be present if he will not be able to attend in the said opening session,” Robles said. 

President Aquino’s victory last May 10 elections left another vacancy in the Senate, while Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson remains in hiding. – With Marvin Sy