Palace confident to win case vs. Trillanes

FILE: ARRESTED. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV (2nd from right) submits himself to police officers, led by National Capital Region Police Office chief, Director Guillermo Eleazar (3rd from right), at the Senate premises on Tuesday (Sept. 25, 2018). Trillanes proceeded to Makati Police headquarters for booking process and posting of PHP200,000 bail for a rebellion case. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA — Malacañang on Monday expressed confidence anew that it can still win the case against opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV over his dismissed coup d’ etat charges.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made this statement after Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 Judge Andres Soriano turned down the motions for reconsideration filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Trillanes since both camps have “rehashed” their issues and arguments.

“We’re very confident we’re going to win this case,” Panelo said in a chance interview with reporters after the regular Palace briefing.

“Even a hostile court cannot dispute evidence that will be presented to them.

Courts will always rule on the basis of evidence. We feel that our evidence is very strong,” he added.

Panelo said the Palace will bring Soriano’s decision to the Court of Appeals (CA).

Earlier, DOJ prosecutors challenged Soriano’s factual findings that Trillanes filed an application for amnesty and admitted his guilt for the offense of coup d’etat.

Trillanes, meanwhile, asked the court to declare President Rodrigo Duterte’s Proclamation 572, which invalidated his amnesty, as “illegal and/or unconstitutional.”