(Eagle News) — Nobody is interested in arresting Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
This is according to President Rodrigo Duterte himself, who spoke to reporters after leading a command conference of government officials on the preparations being undertaken ahead of the landfall of Typhoon “Ompong.”
The President made the remark after Trillanes decided to remain holed up in the Senate even after he said he would leave the building “quietly” within the day.
Trillanes said he made the decision to do this after his vehicle that only left the Senate to be refueled was followed by motorcycle-riding men.
“With that ang decision is again to remain in the Senate for as long as walang categorical statement ang AFP na hindi nila ako aarestuhin by virtue of proclamation at any court martial charge at na-validate namin sa ground na ang kanilang order ay hindi na ako arestuhin, it’s prudent to stay here,” he said.
But according to
“He can stay there as a boarder. Sabi ko (sa mga pulis), do not arrest until there is a warrant of arrest by the (civilian) court. Wala namang order. So kung walang order, huwag ninyong pakialaman,” Duterte said.
Trillanes has been holed up in the Senate building in Pasay since Sept. 4, when news broke the President had signed Proclamation No. 572 that declared the amnesty granted to him for the Oakwood mutiny and the Peninsula Manila siege void ab initio.
The proclamation had cited as basis for the declaration Trillanes’ alleged failure to submit an official application for the amnesty in the first place, and a certification from the military that said there was no available application form with them.
The proclamation also cited Trillanes’ alleged failure to make an express admission of guilt.
Trillanes has denied the allegations, and has asked the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order on the implementation of the proclamation.
This was, however, denied by the SC, which instead asked Trillanes to submit his comment on the government’s position. With a report from Meanne Corvera