Review of Trillanes’s case not ‘disrespecting’ judiciary

MALACAÑANG on Saturday reassured the judiciary that President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is not encroaching on its territory when he ordered a review of detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s case.

Presidential Communications Group official Herminio Coloma said the order to review can be undertaken by the Department of Justice (DOJ), which is under the executive branch.

“There is never any intention from the executive department, much less the President, to cross the line and disrespect the judiciary,” Coloma said on government-run dzRB radio.

On Friday, Aquino ordered the DOJ to review the coup charges filed against Trillanes in connection with the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, saying the senator may have been a victim of injustice.

He pointed out that Trillanes was first jailed because he faced coup charges before the Makati City court for his participation in the so-called Oakwood Mutiny on July 27, 2003.

Trillanes later also faced rebellion charges before the Makati City court for taking part in the so-called Manila Peninsula hotel siege in November 2007.

Earlier, Trillanes posted a P200,000 bail before the Makati court “in anticipation of the possibility” that Judge Oscar Pimentel of the Makati Regional Trial Court branch 148 would grant his earlier motion for a leave-from-detention to attend the opening of the Senate session July 26.

Trillanes is now detained at Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame.

“This is not interfering with the judiciary because the DOJ has the responsibility to review. This is part of our criminal justice system,” Coloma said.

On the other hand, Coloma fended off speculations that Aquino wants Trillanes freed early so he can support Liberal Party Senator Francis Pangilinan’s bid for the Senate presidency.

“I think that’s already going too far. It is speculative. Let’s limit the discussion to the review of the case,” he said.

He also declined to comment on speculations that Aquino will grant amnesty to coup plotters like what former President Fidel Ramos did to plotters who sought to overthrow Aquino’s late mother Corazon. “We are not in that stage. Let’s not dwell on that now.” (JMR/Sunnex)

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