MALACAÑANG dismissed on Tuesday, September 18, as "paranoia" the claim of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV that intelligence personnel are casing his house, amid his possible arrest pending the decision of Makati courts.
"Well, first, it's drama. Now, it appears to be paranoia," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. told Palace reporters, when sought for reaction on Trillanes's allegation that unregistered vehicles were seen around his house.
Trillanes, a fierce critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, revealed Saturday, September 15, that government's intelligence units are stalking his home, as he remained holed up in his office at the Senate to evade arrest after his amnesty for two failed mutinies was revoked.
Proclamation 572 signed by Duterte on August 31 officially voided Trillanes's amnesty and ordered the arrest of the former-military-official-turned-lawmaker for his involvement in the 2003 Oakwood Munity and the 2007 Manila Peninsula Siege.
Despite the issuance of the proclamation, Duterte guaranteed on September 12 that he would not order the immediate arrest of Trillanes, until the Makati courts make a decision on the senator's case.
On September 12, Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 148, which heard Trillanes's Oakwood mutiny case, deferred ruling on the Department of Justice's petition to release an arrest warrant against the senator.
On September 13, Makati RTC Branch 150, which heard the Manila Peninsula uprising case against the former military officer, likewise postponed its ruling on the DOJ's petition for an arrest warrant against Trillanes.
Roque guaranteed that Duterte would let the courts decide on Trillanes' fate.
"I think it's very clear the President has left the matter to the RTC of Makati, and so has the Supreme Court," the Palace official said. (SunStar Philippines)