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Trillanes' 'general admission of guilt' not enough, says DOJ chief

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<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="1425437" 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 - Senator Antonio Trillanes IV should not only make a &quot;specific admission&quot; of guilt but also retract any public statements he may have made before in order for the amnesty to be valid, the secretary of the Department of Justice said Wednesday.</p><p>Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said these requirements were specifically included in the circular that created the proclamation that granted Trillanes amnesty in 2011. However, he said, these were not met by the senator.</p><p>&quot;What is required under a circular issued by the ad-hoc committee created under that proclamation by President Noynoy Aquino was an admission of guilt for the offenses being charged, exactly or precisely the offenses being charged. Nothing general,&quot; he said in an ANC &quot;Headstart&quot; interview with host Karen Davila.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/04/18/trillanes-amnesty-void-as-if-it-never-existed-doj-chief">Trillanes amnesty void &#x27;as if it never existed&#x27;: DOJ chief</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/04/18/watch-trillanes-presents-video-of-submitting-amnesty-application">WATCH: Trillanes presents video of submitting amnesty application</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Apart from saying &#x27;I admit that I committed coup d’etat,&#x27; you should also retract any public statement you might have said which is inconsistent with that admission of guilt. And we have not seen that,&quot; he added.</p><p>In a &quot;revocation&quot; proclamation issued on August 31, President Rodrigo Duterte voided Trillanes&#x27; amnesty for his alleged failure to formally apply for one and for his supposed failure to admit guilt for leading the uprisings in 2003 and 2007.</p><p>The senator, who is one of Duterte&#x27;s loudest critics, has already denied these claims, even playing a video in the Senate to prove he formally applied for amnesty. The Defense Department had said that they are still trying to find the missing records.</p><p>Despite this, Guevarra said the burden to prove that the documents exist is on the senator.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;ve got to see the documents themselves. The group that checked on this didn&#x27;t find any of these in the AFP... If Senator Trillanes is planning to file necessary action in court to challenge this proclamation, then he can very well show these,&quot; he said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/04/18/walang-available-copy-dnd-searching-for-trillanes-amnesty-application">Walang available copy: DND searching for Trillanes&#x27; amnesty application</a></li></ul><p>But for Guevarra, Trillanes&#x27; supposed &#x27;non-admission of guilt&#x27; is the biggest loophole when he sought amnesty.</p><p>&quot;That is very, very fundamental for the grant of amnesty to anyone. He must first admit his guilt, and I don&#x27;t see that in the person of Senator Trillanes -- with all sincerity,&quot; he said.</p><p>Guevarra stressed that because Trillanes&#x27; amnesty has been declared void &quot;as it never existed&quot; from the beginning, court proceedings on his case should proceed.</p><p>The DOJ has already sought an alias arrest warrant and hold departure order against Trillanes.</p>

<p>Senator Antonio Trillanes IV should not only make a "specific admission" of guilt but also retract any public statements he may have made before in order for the amnesty to be valid, the secretary of the Department of Justice said Wednesday.</p>

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV should not only make a "specific admission" of guilt but also retract any public statements he may have made before in order for the amnesty to be valid, the secretary of the Department of Justice said Wednesday.