Trillanes seeks Makati court permission to travel abroad

FILE: Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV (Photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA — Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday asked the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 150 to allow him to travel abroad in Europe and the United States next month.

In a motion for leave of court to travel abroad, Trillanes asked the court to allow him to travel from Dec. 11, 2018 to Jan. 12, 2019 and from Jan. 27 to Feb. 10, 2019.

Trillanes’ counsel Reynaldo Robles explained to the court that the senator was invited by groups to attend activities in Amsterdam, Barcelona and London from Dec. 11 to Jan. 11 next year.

From Jan. 27 to Feb. 10, 2019, the senator will likewise be meeting with officials of various groups, organizations and institutions in California, Washington DC and Maryland in the US.

He attached in his motion a travel order signed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

Aside from a warrant of arrest, Makati RTC Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda also earlier issued a hold departure order against the lawmaker.

Trillanes has posted bail for his temporary liberty while the charges of rebellion against him remain pending.

“As shown by his past actions, particularly by the fact that he voluntarily surrendered and posted bail in the instant case immediately upon the issuance of the warrant of arrest in the case, as well as by the fact that he has always returned to the country as committed in the instances he was permitted by the courts to travel abroad… herein former accused is not a flight risk,” read the motion.

The Makati court’s ruling honoring the invalidation of Trillanes’ amnesty is still a subject of a motion for reconsideration.