Panelo defends Makati judge over Trillanes’ arrest order

“The order is anchored on solid ground,” Panelo said in a statement. (File Photo: PCOO via Secretary Salvador Panelo/Facebook)

MANILA — Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Tuesday defended the decision of Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda ordering the arrest of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

“The order is anchored on solid ground,” Panelo said in a statement.

Trillanes posted a PHP200,000 bail after undergoing booking procedures at the Makati Police headquarters.

“Judge Alameda is a no-nonsense judge who has a reputation for independence and probity,” Panelo said.

Alameda issued an arrest warrant and hold departure order against Trillanes at the request of the Department of Justice (DOJ) after President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation 572 declaring void ab initio (from the beginning) the amnesty granted by the previous administration to the senator.

Panelo said Trillanes “should ‘face the music and dance’ as Frank Sinatra would croon in his song with the same title.

“He has to stop milking the issue and act pathetically as if he is a victim of injustice. The law of karma, as well as of the law, has finally caught up with his shenannigans,” Panelo said.

“He has been using his position as senator in planting the seeds of hate and sedition against PRRD and the government,” he added.

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque urged Trillanes to just focus his time and energy on preparing his legal defense “instead of facing the cameras.”

“He should view this as a welcome opportunity to submit his evidence that will prove the grant of amnesty to him was valid,” Roque said.

Trillanes insisted that he filed an application for amnesty and admitted his guilt of crimes of rebellion against former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The senator, however, failed to present his application form for amnesty that should contain his admission of guilt.

Roque said Trillanes should stop resorting to “ad hominem” attacks against the President.

“The court has spoken. Let us stop the drama by presscon and allow the legal process to take its course,” he said.