THE Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 148 gave the camp of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV more time to submit evidence in connection with the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) motion seeking the issuance of a warrant of arrest and a hold departure order against the embattled senator.
Judge Andres Bartolome of Makati RTC Branch 148 gave Trillanes until Tuesday, October 9 within which to file his formal offer of exhibits (evidence).
The DOJ will be given one day after the receipt of the said offer to file its comment before the case will be submitted for resolution.
During the hearing on Friday, October 5, both the defense and the prosecution panel presented witnesses to corroborate there respective claims on the application of Trillanes’s amnesty.
Branch 148 heard the coup d' etat case against Trillanes, a former navy officer who was charged over his participation in the Oakwood Mutiny in 2003 and the Manila Peninsula Siege in 2007.
The coup d' etat case and the rebellion case before Makati RTC Branch 150 were dismissed when Trillanes and other Magdalo dissident soldiers were granted amnesty under Proclamation 75 issued by former President Benigno Aquino III in 2010.
That amnesty, however, was voided under Proclamation 572, which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on August 31 and made known to the public on September 4.
The proclamation also directed the DOJ and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Court Martial to revive the cases against Trillanes.
Makati Branch 150 issued an arrest warrant against Trillanes on September 25. The senator, however, was allowed to post P200,000 bail and released.
Earlier, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the rebellion case has been revived and will now go to trial.
The coup d' etat case, on the other hand, was already up for promulgation of the judge's decision when Trillanes was granted amnesty.
If the case is revived and Trillanes is ordered arrested, there would be no escaping detention for the senator this time. The coup d' etat case is non-bailable. (With Keith Calayag/SunStar Philippines)