EMBATTLED Senator Antonio Trillanes IV's claims of military surveillance around his house amid his looming arrest was a mere “publicity stunt,” Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said.
Instead of taking legal action to clear his name, Trillanes just acted like an “anxious puppy pretending to be a political target” by President Rodrigo Duterte all the time, Panelo said.
“Noticing, however, that his supposed arbitrary arrest drama is losing media traction, Senator Trillanes is now claiming that his life is in danger by releasing a supposed video footage showing that an unidentified vehicle is casing his house,” Duterte's chief legal counsel said.
“There has never been any concrete report or incident that there is an attempt against his life due to his continued opposition to this administration. These are all publicy stunts of Sentator Trillanes not only to besmirch the reputation of the President, but also to milk publicity for himself,” he added.
Panelo's statement came four days after Trillanes revealed to the public a video footage of a car allegedly casing his house.
Trillanes has been holed up in the Senate after Duterte's Proclamation 572 inked on August 31 effectively revoked his amnesty granted to him by the Aquino government to absolve him of any liabilities from his involvement in two failed mutinies against the Arroyo government when he was still a Navy official.
Duterte's proclamation also ordered Trillanes's arrest and the restoration of criminal and administrative cases against the latter.
Despite the issuance of the proclamation, the President assured Trillanes that the arrest would depend on the decision of two Makati City courts, which hear the senator's case.
Panelo echoed Duterte's statement that there would be warrantless against Trillanes.
“The President has already categorically stated that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV will not be arrested without a warrant issued by the court,” he said.
“To be clear, his supposed arbitrary arrest, and now threat to his life, are but figments of his imagination,” Panelo added.
On Tuesday, September 18, Malacañang said Trillanes's claim that intelligence personnel are stalking his house was a mere “paranoia” of the senator. (SunStar Philippines)