Tag: Antonio Trillanes IV

Estrada joins call for Trillanes’ temporary release

Published by Ellen on July 19, 2010

Former president Joseph Estrada joined calls for the temporary release of Trillanes, saying that his continued detention is a waste of taxpayer’s money.

Statement of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV:

I am very grateful for the public pronouncements of Pres. Aquino as regards our case. It was truly a display of magnanimity on his part. Still, for now, it will be the court who will decide whether or not I would be able to serve our country once again.

“He is receiving his salary as senator yet unable to render his services in this capacity. By not allowing him to participate in Senate sessions, the courts are rendering Senator Trillanes’ office inutile and indirectly wasting taxpayers’ money,” he said.

Estrada said it should not be too difficult to allow Trillanes a few hours of provisional liberty to participate in the Senate sessions, particularly on July 26.

“He can be brought to the Senate to attend session for a few hours and then brought back to where he is being detained. Why the big fuss?” Estrada said.

Natatakot ba si Biazon kay Trillanes sa 2013?

Published by Ellen on July 17, 2010

P-Noy orders De Lima to review Trillanes case; says coup charge unjust

Published by Ellen on July 16, 2010

Aquino says coup charge vs Trillanes ‘unjust’; Trillanes posted bail in connection with Manila Pen November 2007 incident

abs-cbnNEWS.com

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III on Friday labeled as unjust a coup charge against former Navy Lt. Senior Grade and now Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for his involvement in the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny.

Update July 18 from Justice Secretary Leila de Lima:

” We abide by the directive of the President. I am reviewing the records of the case and have consulted our prosecutors, especially those handling it before the court.

“I understand that the case will soon be deemed submitted for the court’s decision, upon the filing of the required memoranda by both the prosecution and the defense. At this stage, the options for the prosecution may be limited. And the courts have absolute discretion in the disposal of a case once it has acquired jurisdiction over it.

“On the other hand, the President has the absolute prerogative to direct the Secretary of Justice, as an alter ego, to review the case against Senator Trillanes. It is in consonance with his oath to do justice to every man. That is also part of the thrust and mission of the new DOJ,” Secretary De Lima added.

“I will, however, exercise care and circumspection under the circumstances, given the independence of the judiciary,” Secretary De Lima further added.

Aquino said he has ordered Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to review the coup charge against Trillanes since the elements of a coup were not present during the short-lived mutiny.

“Trillanes was first incarcerated by virtue of the charge of participating in a coup. However, if you review the Revised Penal Code, there is a provision that says a coup is committed if there is a swift, violent attack. Then there’s an enumeration. The enumeration does not include a hotel,” he said at the inauguration of the Philippine National Police School of Values and Leadership (SVL) in Subic Freeport Zone, Zambales.

Trillanes wants to attend Senate opening

Published by Ellen on July 6, 2010

by Ashzhel Hachero
Malaya

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV yesterday asked Makati Judge Oscar Pimentel to allow him to attend the opening session of the Senate on July 26.

Trillanes’ lawyer Reynaldo Robles also asked that Trillanes be allowed to take lunch with Senate colleagues within the premises of the Senate at the GSIS Financial Complex on Roxas boulevard, Pasay City.

Trillanes said he will abide with the security considerations of his custodian.

Trillanes is detained at the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame, Quezon City, in connection with his involvement in the short-lived Oakwood mutiny in 2003.

He was elected senator in the 2007 mid-term election despite campaigning behind bars and with little resources at his disposal.

Noynoy vows review of Magdalo soldiers’ cases

Published by Ellen on June 17, 2010

by Kris Bayos
Manila Bulletin

Although President-elect Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III believes that detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and the other Magdalo soldiers involved in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny and the 2007 Manila Peninsula Siege are not guilty of coup d’etat and rebellion, he cannot promise them executive clemency.

A known sympathizer of Trillanes and ally of Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, Aquino said he will respect the proceedings against the Magdalo soldiers at the Makati Regional Trial Court.

“The court is a co-equal branch of the executive. As such, mere executive action is not enough to solve the case. There is a process that has to be undergone, which we should respect,” he said in reaction to the suggestion of Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel for the next administration to intervene in the Magdalo soldiers’ cases.

Rectifying travesty of justice

Published by Ellen on May 23, 2010

The battle cry of Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, Jr. during the election campaign was “Kung walang korap, walang mahirap.”

He promised to wage a campaign against corruption, which he said deprives the people of thousands and million of pesos a year which should have gone to education, health, and other social services

Gloria Arroyo is the epitome of corruption and deceit. Fertilizer scam, NBN ZTE, Road Users tax, the list is too long for this space.

Aquino on Trillanes,Lacson, Kris,GMA, Corona, Merceditas Gutierrez etc.

Published by Ellen on May 21, 2010

Rough transcript of President-apparent Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, III presscon during a party for the media that covered the Liberal party during last election’s campaign Thursday May 20, held at a supporter’s place on Samar Avenue, Q.C.

Since the tape recorders were near Aquino , not the reporters, the questions were not clearly audible.

Nevertheless, the answers are more important.What I find significant is his answer to question number 44. He spoke about the injustice of Trillanes’ seven year imprisonment. He said he believes it was not a coup.

The coup detat case against the Magdalo officers , which is being tried by Judge Oscar Pimentel of the Makati Trial Court Branch 148 is up for promulgation.

Aquino said, “Can I just go back and give another example. Isang sa korte rin na gusto ko ipa-review talaga ang kaso ni Danny Lim at Sen. Trillanes. Ulitin ko,fundamental ang issue ko dito sa Revised Penal Code. Nakalimutan ko provision. I think, coup d’etat how committed, swift violent attack on military camps, utilities, telecoms, etc. Walang hotel. Ang issue po Oakwood. So di dapat lumampas sa fiscal na mali ang kaso. Pero lumabas sa piskal umabot sa korte nakakulong 7 taon ang dalawa sa kasong yan.

“At ang decision executive lang yan kailangan manifestation at petition before the RTC in Makati before it can effect, rectify this travesty of justice . They might have other cases but as far as I am concerned coup d’etat basis of interpretation mukhang mali ang application of batas.”

The full transcript:

Let Trillanes fulfill his mandate

Published by Ellen on January 5, 2010

Senate Majority Floorleader Miguel Zubiri should not worry about the Philippines setting a precedent in allowing a detained senator to fulfill his duties to the people.

The Philippines has already set a precedent for having a president who has never been elected to that position by the people.

Zubiri, defending his sitting on a Senate resolution allowing detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to participate in the sessions and other legislative functions through remote or electronic Zubiri asked, “Is there a parliament anywhere around the world that allows legally detained members to participate in their sessions?”

Lawmakers international group takes cudgels for Trillanes; Zubiri replies

Published by Ellen on January 4, 2010

The Inter-Parliamentary Union urged the Philippine Senate to act on the resolution allowing him to perform his dutiees as elected senator noting that his six-year detention, despite his not having been convicted of any crime, is a violation of his basic rights.

In its letter to majority floor leader Senator Miguel Zubiri to act on a 2008 Senate resolution allowing detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to participate in the sessions and other legislative functions through remote or electronic means.

They called on authorities to “ensure that the resolution is implemented without further delay.”

“The Philippines is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which enshrines fair trial guarantees and that, as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, it has pledged to uphold the highest standards of human rights,” said the IPU.

‘Oakwood’ and GMA Sona

Published by Ellen on July 26, 2009

July 27, six years ago was a Sunday, the day before the last Monday of July when the president delivers the State-of-the Nation’s address.

That was the day when some 300 soldiers took a stand against Gloria Arroyo’s misgovernance at the Oakwood Premier Hotel (now Ascott) in Makati.

The group didn’t have a name but a TV producer saw in the image of the sun in their red armbands a resemblance to the symbol of the Emilio Aguinaldo’s Magdalo faction in the revolutionary Katipunan. He called them “Magdalo” and the name stuck.

This year, July 27 is a Monday. As the Magdalo group marks six years of the ‘Oakwood incident’, Gloria Arroyo delivers her SONA, supposedly her last.