President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte has revoked the amnesty granted to Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.
The President signed Proclamation 572 on August 31 to revoke the senator’s amnesty given by former president Benigno Aquino III in 2010.
President Rodrigo Duterte has revoked the amnesty given to opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in 2010 in connection with his involvement in unsuccessful attempts to overthrow the Arroyo administration.
The President’s action was confirmed to the media on Tuesday by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.
Signed by President Duterte on August 31, 2018, Proclamation No. 572 stated that the amnesty extended to Trillanes was void from the start because he did not comply with the “minimum requirements to qualify under the amnesty proclamation.”
Duterte cited a certification from the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel that there is no available copy of Trillanes’ application for amnesty.
Sen. Trillanes, a former Navy officer before entering politics in 2007, has also “never expressed his guilt” for the crimes committed in line with the Oakwood Mutiny in 2003 and Manila Peninsula Siege in 2007, the proclamation said.
“Despite former LTSG (Lieutenant Senior Grade) Trillanes IV’s failure to apply for amnesty and refusal to admit his guilt, his name was nonetheless included among those granted amnesty pursuant to Department of National Defense Ad Hoc Committee Resolution No. 2 approved by former Secretary of National Defense Voltaire T. Gazmin,” the proclamation stated.
As a result, President Duterte directed the Department of Justice and Court Martial of the AFP to pursue all criminal and administrative cases filed against Trillanes in connection with the Oakwood and Manila Peninsula incidents.
President Duterte also ordered the AFP and the Philippine National Police to arrest Trillanes “so that he can be recommitted to the detention facility where he had been incarcerated for him to stand trial for crimes he is charged with.”
“The proclamation shall take effect immediately,” the document clearly stated.
Sen. Antonio Trillanes and the other Magdalo soldiers were able to avail of amnesty by virtue of Proclamation 75, issued in November 2010 by then-President Benigno Aquino III.
That proclamation granted amnesty to all active and former personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and their supporters, who committed acts or omissions punishable under the Revised Penal Code, the Articles of War or other special laws related to the following:
- the July 27, 2003 Oakwood Mutiny;
- the February 2006 Marines Stand-Off;
- the November 29, 2007 Manila Peninsula Incident, and/or related incidents “provided that amnesty shall not cover crimes against chastity and other crimes committed for personal ends.”
Aquino’s amnesty proclamation was then sent to Congress which then gave its concurrence.
“The grant of amnesty to former LTSG Antonio Trillanes IV under Proclamation No. 75 is declared void ab initio because he did not comply with the minimum requirements to qualify under the amnesty proclamation,” The President said.
Philippine President ordered the Department of Justice and the Court Marshall of the Armed Forces of the Philippines “to pursue all criminal and administrative charges” against Trillanes.
President strongly ordered the military and the police “to employ all lawful means to apprehend” the coup leader.
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