IT was on July 27, 2003, a Sunday, when then junior Philippine Navy officer now Senator Antonio Trillanes IV first hogged the spotlight, by leading at least 300 soldiers in taking over the Oakwood Premiere serviced apartments located at the Ayala Center in Makati City.
They called themselves the Magdalo group. Among its members were Nicanor Faeldon, Gerardo Gambala and Milo Maestrocampo, all former officials of the Bureau of Customs who also made the headlines when a P6.4-billion illegal drugs shipment from China slipped through the agency.
Trillanes, who served as the spokesperson of the group, aired grievances over the alleged corruption within the military and the administration of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
In particular, Trillanes discussed the anomalies within the Armed Forces of the Philippines Retirement and Separation Benefits System, the military’s procurement system involving the substandard equipment for soldiers and the construction and repair of various facilities at the Marine Base in Cavite, as well as the alleged transfer of arms and ammunition to unauthorized people.
The group urged Arroyo, then Defense secretary Angelo Reyes, then Philippine National Police chief Hermogenes Ebdane and then chief of the AFP Intelligence Service chief Victor Corpus to step down.
However, 20 hours after the group declared a mutiny, they all surrendered to the government.
They were charged with the non-bailable offense of coup d'etat before the Makati Regional Court while charges for mutiny or sedition, conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman and disorders and neglects to the prejudice of good order and military discipline and conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the military service were filed before the military tribunal also known as the court martial.
They were detained at the Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.
A commission chaired by then Supreme Court Justice Florentino Feliciano was also formed to investigate the Oakwood mutiny.
In its report released in October 2003, the commission said the mutiny was “well-planned” with the intention to take over the government and create a 15-member council composed of soldiers.
However, the council also found the sentiments and grievances of the soldiers about corruption in the military valid.
Marine stand-off
Trillanes was also involved in the six-hour stand-off at the Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio on February 26, 2006, where marine servicemen protested the relief of their commandant Major General Renato Miranda.
Just like the Oakwood mutiny, the Marine stand-off was also allegedly related to the plot to unseat Arroyo.
In 2007, Trillanes ran as a senator and campaigned through a social networking site while in detention.
He gained 11 million votes and was elected as a senator, the second youngest senator at the time.
Manila Peninsula siege
In November 2007, while attending a hearing in relation to the Oakwood mutiny before the Makati City Regional Trial Court, Trillanes, along with then Army Scout Ranger Brigadier General Danilo Lim, then Vice President Teofisto Guingona and Magdalo soldiers walked out and sought refuge at the Manila Peninsula hotel.
They staged another stand-off with the same intention - to call for the resignation of Arroyo.
This time, the government no longer allowed any negotiation to happen and military tanks and law enforcers all geared up with high-powered firearms trooped to the Manila Peninsula Hotel and arrested Trillanes, Lim, Guingona and the Magdalo soldiers.
They were charged with rebellion and imprisoned.
Granting of amnesty
In December 2010, Trillanes was given provisional freedom pending the recognition by the court of the amnesty granted by then President Benigno Aquino III.
Under the Proclamation 75 signed by Aquino, he granted amnesty to Trillanes and other military personnel who took part in the uprisings against Arroyo.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the President is given the power to grant amnesty or forgiveness to people convicted of political offenses provided it will have the concurrence of the Congress.
"He shall also have the power to grant amnesty with the concurrence of a majority of all the Members of the Congress," Section 19, article 7 of 1987 constitution reads.
However, among the conditions for the granting of amnesty were the admission of guilt and the filing of amnesty application before the Department of the National Defense (DND).
Revocation of amnesty
In Proclamation 572 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, August 31, which was published in a newspaper on Tuesday, September 4, the amnesty granted to Trillanes was revoked because he allegedly failed to admit guilt and apply for amnesty before the DND.
“Former LTSG Antonio Trillanes IV, O-11797 PN, a grantee under Proclamation no. 75, did not file an official amnesty application form as per the certification dated August 30, 2018 issued by Lieutenant Colonel Thea Joan N. Andrade, Chief of Staff for personnel, J1 stating that 'there is no available copy of his application for amnesty in the records',” the order reads.
“Former LTSG Antonio Trillanes IV, O-11797 PN, never expressed his guilt for the crimes that he committed on occasion of the Oakwood mutiny and Manila Peninsula Hotel Seige," the order adds.
Trillanes, for his part, denied the allegations and maintained that he filed his application for amnesty and admitted guilt.
Missing document
DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said Wednesday, September 5, that they were still looking for a copy of Trillanes' amnesty application.
“Per records, the application is not available as of the moment at hinahanap pa but if the senator decides to present that as part of his defense, we are more than welcome to see it, it will be subjected to authentication,” Andolong said.
"Hindi pa namin na-e-exert lahat ng efforts to find the records of Senator Trillanes,” he added.
In a privilege speech on September 4, Trillanes showed news items and clippings to prove that he filed such document before the DND.
Government critic
Trillanes is a staunch critic of the government, particularly of President Rodrigo Duterte, despite his admission that he met with the President before the 2016 elections for a possible team-up.
As reported, Duterte refused to have Trillanes as runningmate.
“Kinausap niya ako na gusto niyang mag bise presidente sa akin. Sabi ko, 'Ayaw ko... Pero hindi ko lang masabi na, 'Ikaw klaseng tao, maging bise ko?” said Duterte.
It was then that Duterte and Trillanes started throwing stones at each other.
Trillanes hit Duterte particularly over the government’s bloody war on drugs.
He accused the President's son Paolo of corruption in relation to the P6.4-billion shabu shipment from China.
He has been challenging Duterte to sign a waiver to allow the release of bank records and dispel allegations of ill gotten wealth.
As of Wednesday, September 5, Trillanes is holed up in his office at the Senate to evade arrest while fighting through legal means the revocation of the amnesty granted to him.
Military personnel, backed by policemen, are in the Senate premises waiting to arrest the senator.
AFP spokesperson Edgard Arevalo said Proclamation 572 means that Trillanes has been reverted to military service and is now subject to the military's rules.
The court martial proceedings against Trillanes will now proceed, he said. A detention cell at the AFP custodial center has been readied for the senator.
Arevalo said they were just following orders from the chief executive. He denied that the AFP has become politicized.
"Ang sinusunod natin dito ay ang legal na mandato, meron namang official document," he said.
"Your Armed Forces is a professional organization, we are a mature organization," he added. (SunStar Philippines)