Opposition lauds judge who refused to issue arrest warrant vs. Trillanes

FILE: Senator Antonio Trillanes IV delivers a privilege speech on his support for the continuation of the recent Senate probe on the statements of former SPO3 Arthur Lascañas while Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon listens. (PRIB Photo by Albert Calvelo via Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

Opposition senators praised a Makati judge after he decided not to put one of President Rodrigo Duterte’s fiercest critics, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, behind bars on Monday, October 22.

Issuing his much-awaited decision, Judge Andres Soriano of Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 148 junked the Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) motion for the issuance of warrant of arrest and hold departure order (HDO) against Trillanes in connection with his coup d’etat charges. Soriano, in his ruling, said that this case against the senator has long been dismissed after he was granted amnesty by the administration of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

“The records shows that this case has long been dismissed as per the Court’s order dated September 21, 2011, by virtue of Proclamation No. 75 and the accused availment thereof. The dismissal, it appears, has become final and executory,” the decision read.

“Well established is the doctrine that a final and executory judgement shall be immutable. The court, in fact, loses jurisdiction over the case when its decision has become final and executory,” it added.

The court also ruled that Trillanes did file his amnesty application and admitted his guilt for his participation in the Oakwood mutiny. While junking the DOJ’s plea, Soriano still upheld the validity of Duterte’s Proclamation 572, which voids the amnesty given to the senator.

Upon hearing the news, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Soriano’s ruling strengthens the belief of Filipino people that despite everything happens, at the end of the day, it is the rule of law that will prevail.

“No amount of underhanded legal maneuvering will be rewarded by an independent judiciary. The resolution of this case will definitely help restore the perception of stability in our courts,” Drilon said.

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, meanwhile, praised the Makati judge for “siding with the truth, and for his courage amidst seemingly insurmountable pressure.”

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan also welcomed Soriano’s decision, expressing his gratitude to the judge for refusing to embrace tyranny.

Moreover, opposition coalition Tindig Pilipinas, on its separate statement, said that while Soriano made a “Solomonic” decision in declaring constitutional the Proclamation No. 572, the group acknowledged that Soriano “reviewed the evidence before him, weighed them heavily against the standards of Evidentiary Law, and found there was sufficient basis to state on record that Sen. Trillanes indeed filed an application for amnesty.”

“This is Judge Andres Soriano’s finest hour and this country will forever be indebted to him for judicial independence,” it said.

“This is a decision that was made firmly and bravely against all pressure brought to bear against him by this oppressive government which will brook no dissent or accept no criticism,” it added.

Trillanes has earlier thanked Soriano who, he said, “single-handedly” upheld justice and the rule of law under the Duterte administration.

Soriano is among the two judges handling the criminal charges against the senator.

Contrary to the decision of the Makati RTC Branch 148, Judge Elmo Alameda of Makati RTC Branch 150, who handles Trillanes’s rebellion case over the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege, previously ordered the former mutineer’s arrest and barred him from leaving the country.

However, he still allowed Trillanes to post bail amounting to P200,000 for his temporary liberty, to which Trillanes had immediately complied with.