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Nothing political: Palace says Trillanes' past finally caught up with him

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Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1425558" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>MANILA - Malacañang on Tuesday defended the voiding of the amnesty granted to Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, as the opposition lawmaker branded the move as political persecution.</p><p>President Rodrigo Duterte through Proclamation 572 revoked the grant of amnesty to Trillanes for failure to comply with its minimum requirements. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/04/18/trillanes-amnesty-revoked-senator-faces-charges-arrest">Trillanes amnesty revoked; senator faces charges, arrest </a></li></ul><p>Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the President “had no alternative” but to rescind the amnesty after it was found to be void from the start due to the supposed absence of any admission of guilt to the crime of coup d&#x27;état.</p><p>“The past finally caught up with Senator Trillanes. He is responsible for his current state,” Roque said in a press briefing in Israel.</p><p>&quot;If he did not participate in the Oakwood mutiny and Manila Peninsula siege, he would not have this case.”</p><p>&quot;There is nothing political. These are all his acts.&quot; </p><p>Roque added that Trillanes really did not apply for amnesty, but “it was given to him on a silver platter.”</p><p>The Department of Justice and the Armed Forces&#x27; court martial were instructed to &quot;pursue all criminal and administrative cases&quot; against Trillanes over military uprisings in 2003 and 2007, according to a copy of Duterte&#x27;s proclamation, which was confirmed by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.</p><p>Duterte&#x27;s predecessor, former President Benigno Aquino III, granted amnesty to Trillanes and several other military rebels in 2011, leading to his release from detention.</p><p>As a Navy lieutenant, Trillanes and his Magdalo band of soldiers and junior officers occupied the Oakwood Hotel in 2003 and the Manila Peninsula Hotel in 2007 to protest alleged corruption under then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.</p><p>Trillanes accused the Duterte administration of &quot;trying everything&quot; to stop a legislative inquiry that he is seeking against Solicitor General Jose Calida, whose security firm allegedly bagged government contracts.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/04/18/trillanes-to-fight-bogus-amnesty-revocation-wont-hide-or-resist-arrest">Trillanes to fight &#x27;bogus&#x27; amnesty revocation, won&#x27;t hide or resist arrest </a></li></ul><p>An amnesty is an act of Congress and cannot be superseded by an executive proclamation, he said.</p><p>Guevarra, however, said no Congress concurrence is needed since the amnesty is found to be void ab initio (from the start).</p><p>The justice chief added Trillanes also cannot invoke legislative immunity from arrest since such can only be used for offenses that carry a penalty of not more than 6 years imprisonment.</p><p>Trillanes, then already a senator, formally applied for amnesty, which requires an admission of guilt, on January 5, 2011.</p><p>In his application form, Trillanes signed a portion acknowledging his involvement in uprisings that entail &quot;a violation of the 1987 Constitution, criminal laws, and the Articles of War&quot; and recanting his statements in the past that are contrary &quot;to this express admission of involvement/participation and guilt.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/01/05/11/trillanes-applies-amnesty-has-no-regrets">Trillanes applies for amnesty, has no regrets</a></li></ul><p>His name was included in the list of applicants for the amnesty as proclaimed by Aquino released by the Department of National Defense on January 21, 2011.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/01/21/11/dnd-releases-list-amnesty-applicants">DND releases list of amnesty applicants </a></li></ul>

<p>MANILA - Malacañang on Tuesday defended the voiding of the amnesty granted to Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, as the opposition lawmaker branded the move as political persecution.</p>

MANILA - Malacañang on Tuesday defended the voiding of the amnesty granted to Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, as the opposition lawmaker branded the move as political persecution.

Nothing political: Palace says Trillanes' past finally caught up with him

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Nothing political: Palace says Trillanes' past finally caught up with him

Dharel Placido,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 04, 2018 02:28 PM PHT

|

Updated Sep 04, 2018 03:01 PM PHT

Read More:

antonio trillanes

malacanang

rodrigo duterte

duterte

menardo guevarra

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