SENATOR Antonio Trillanes IV posted on Monday, December 10, bail amounting to P96,000 before a Pasay court in relation to the libel charges filed against him by presidential son Paolo Duterte and his brother-in-law Manases Carpio.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Guillermo Eleazar said Trillanes arrived at the Pasay Regional Trial Court Branch 118 under Judge Rowena Nieves Tan around 10:30 a.m. and paid P96,000 for four counts of libel.
He said Trillanes, as requested, was assisted by Southern Police District Director Senior Superintendent Eliseo Cruz.
“Senior Superintendent Cruz appeared at the Court to provide the police component of the voluntary surrender of Senator Trillanes before the Court, such as the regular fingerprinting and booking processes,” Eleazar said.
“In this instance, however, the Court decided to waive the booking processes. Senator Trillanes posted bail and an order lifting warrant of arrest was issued by the Court,” he added.
The Manila police received four arrest warrants against Trillanes over the weekend.
The arrest warrants were issued on Friday, December 7, by Judge Melinda Alconcel-Dayanghirang of the Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 54 over the libel charges filed against Trillanes in September by Duterte and Carpio.
Duterte and Carpio, husband of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, filed charges against Trillanes for implicating and accusing them of involvement in the illegal drugs trade and smuggling at the Bureau of Customs and the extortion at the ride-sharing company Uber.
It was the second time this year for Trillanes, who is a known critic of the administration, to post bail after warrants of arrest were issued against him.
In September, a Makati court ordered the senator's arrest but allowed him to post bail amounting to P200,000. The warrant was issued days after President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation No. 572, which revoked the amnesty granted to Trillanes. (SunStar Philippines)