Casing Trillanes’ house ‘perfectly legal’, Palace asserts

FILE: TRILLANES FACES THE MEDIA. Senator Antonio Trilllanes IV issues a statement to the media, with Minority Floor Leader Senator Franklin Drilon (right) and Senator Risa Hontiveros (left), about the revocation of his amnesty by Malacañang on Tuesday (Sept. 4, 2018). (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday found nothing wrong with the presence of military personnel near the house of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, stressing that it was “perfectly legal” as long as his privacy was not violated.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque was reacting to Trillanes claim that members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were casing his house in Antipolo City.

“Casing the house, there’s nothing wrong with that, for as long as you don’t violate the privacy of his house. Casing is perfectly legal,” Roque said in a Palace briefing.

Roque said Trillanes was being paranoid for thinking that the presence of military personnel would be a threat to his life.

“Well maybe because he felt that there was a threat on his life; we will not bother actually. So that’s why it’s paranoia,” Roque said.

In a Senate hearing, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Carlito Galvez Jr. confirmed that there were indeed military personnel deployed to monitor the senator’s house following security threats.

No application for amnesty

Roque, meanwhile, insisted that Trillanes’ amnesty was voided since he could not present a copy of his application for amnesty and of records manifesting his admission of guilt for the crimes of rebellion he committed during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“His own received copy of the application is important, because if the copy on file cannot be found, then the best evidence to prove that in fact it was filed would have been his duly received copy,” Roque said.

“We are governed with the rules of evidence, best evidence rule, you have to prove first and foremost why you cannot produce the original document. He is unable to produce it,” he added.

On Saturday, the lawmaker was able to leave the Senate after being holed up in its premises for weeks following the revocation of his amnesty.