THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will no longer give comments or statements in relation to the revocation of the amnesty granted by the previous administration to Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, AFP spokesperson Colonel Edgard Arevalo said on Friday, September 7.
“The AFP is mindful that Senator Trillanes IV has already filed his petition before the Supreme Court. We will defer commenting on the merits of the case in deference to the sub judice rule,” he said.
Arevalo made the statement in response to the clamor from members of the press for interviews to clarify several issues surrounding the revocation of Trillanes’ amnesty, particularly on the alleged missing amnesty application.
Proclamation 572, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on August 31, revoked the amnesty granted to Trillanes, ordered his arrest, and directed the Department of Justice and Armed Forces of the Philippines Court Martial to pursue the criminal and administrative charges against him.
The proclamation cited as reasons for the revocation the alleged failure of Trillanes to file an amnesty application and admit guilt to participation in the Oakwood mutiny in July 2003 and the Manila Peninsula Siege in November 2007.
Both uprisings, as well as the Marines Standoff in February 2006, were aimed at ousting then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo over allegations of corruption.
Trillanes, however, has shown documents proving that he had filed an application and admitted guilt.
Through his counsel Reynaldo Robles, Trillanes has challenged the constitutionality of Proclamation 572 before the Supreme Court.
A petition for certiorari, prohibition and injunction with prayer for the issuance of a temporary restraining order was filed before the High Court on Thursday, September 6.
Trillanes and 38 other officers and men under the Magdalo group were granted amnesty through Proclamation 75, which was signed by former President Benigno Aquino III in 2010.
Trillanes and the rest of the dissident soldiers filed their amnesty applications on January 5, 2011.
Earlier, Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said Trillanes may have filed his amnesty application but such document could not be found.
Under Proclamation 572, Lieutenant Colonel Thea Joan N. Andrade of the AFP's J1 issued a certification that Trillanes’ amnesty application is “not available” in their office.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said that even if Trillanes has filed such an application and admitted guilt, President Rodrigo Duterte could still revoke the amnesty because Trillanes allegedly violated the terms and conditions of such amnesty.
Meanwhile, Arevalo said the AFP is still in the process of constituting the General Court Martial as ordered in Proclamation 572.
Prior to his amnesty, Trillanes faced charges of 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 before the military tribunal. (SunStar Philippines)