By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Mincing no words, former Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV has assailed Ex-President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for alleged abuse of power over attempts to revoke the amnesty granted by then President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III in 2010 over the failed coup attempts launched during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

At the same time, Trillanes IV thanked the Supreme Court (SC) for upholding the validity of his amnesty.

“Maraming salamat po sa Supreme Court sa pagbasura ng Amnesty revocation ni Duterte nung 2018,” Trillanes IV wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

The SC recently struck down a 2018 proclamation issued by Duterte revoking Trillanes’ amnesty as “unconstitutional.”

It stated that Duterte cannot revoke the amnesty of Trillanes IV without the concurrence of Congress.

The High Tribunal also declared that the revocation of Trillanes’ amnesty long after it became final and without prior notice violated his right to due process.

The Magdalo group leader castigated Duterte and his officials, including former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, former Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra and former Solicitor General Jose Calista, over their actions against him.

“Sa kagustuhang patahimikin at ipakulong ang mga myembro ng oposisyon, sina Duterte, Medialdea, Guevarra at Calida ay gumawa ng pag-abuso ng kapangyarihan at sukdulang katangahan,” Trillanes IV averred.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — In what could be his scariest nightmare, former Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV on Saturday (02 Mar 2024) cautioned the public against the possibility of ex-President Rodrigo Roa Duterte running for senator in the 2025 elections and winning the race.

Trillanes said the truth about Duterte must be spread to “awaken” his supporters and deter new voters from electing him.

“Digong might run for Senator in 2025. So, we have a year to spread the truth about him to awaken his moderate supporters and so he’d be shunned by the new voters,” the former senator on Facebook.

“Let’s not be passive or else panalo ulit yan,” Trillanes warned, using the hashtag #IbasuraSiDuterteSa2025.

Trillanes had accused Duterte of having ill-gotten wealth as well as abuses in his controversial drug crackdown.

It can be recalled that in November last year, Duterte, who ended her six-year term in 2022, said he may run for senator in 2025 or run for vice president in 2028 if his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte gets impeached.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Following the defiant declaration of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte that “hindi pahuhuli ng buhay” (won’t be arrested alive), ex-Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV has urged those concerned to just “chill,” adding that an International Criminal Court (ICC) issuance of arrest warrant may catch them off guard.

Aside from FPRRD, Vice President Sara Duterte and Senators Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go are expected to be served arrest warrants by the ICC which investigated the extra-judicial killings (EJKs) in the course of the bloody, six-year anti-illegal drugs campaign of the previous Duterte administration.

“There is no ICC warrant issued that I know of. Chill lang, masyado naman kayong praning. Darating din yan when you least expect it,” Trillanes said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

He said the ICC has yet to issue an arrest warrant regarding its probe into the Duterte administration’s “bloody drug war.”

But the elder Duterte remained unfazed, vowing to defy any arrest order, citing the lack of jurisdiction of the ICC.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier declared the government won’t bar ICC probers into the country, but won’t also cooperate with their probe.

Marcos Jr. said he believes the ICC has no jurisdiction in the country, adding any interference is a threat to the nation’s sovereignty.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Saying that confessed Davao Death Squad hitman Arturo Lascañas was prevented by “pro-Duterte” senators from presenting his side during a Senate inquiry in 2017, former Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV has called on the House of Representatives to investigate in aid of legislation the allegations that former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte and son Davao City’s 1st Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte were involved in extrajudicial killings (EJKs), illegal trade and smuggling in their home city of Davao.

In a video that went viral, Lascañas claimed that Oplan Tokhang, the controversial anti-drug campaign during the Duterte administration, was the brainchild of Vice President Sara Duterte when she was mayor of Davao City.

On the other hand, Lascañas charged that then Vice Mayor Pulong Duterte allegedly ran a clandestine drug smuggling syndicate.

“Nananawagan ako sa House of Representatives na imbestigahan ang mga mabibigat na paratang ni Sgt. Arturo Lascañas laban sa pamilyang Duterte, na ang mga ito ay involved hindi lang sa EJKs, pati na rin sa illegal drug trade at smuggling. Dito makikita ng taumbayan kung sya nga ba ay nagsasabi ng totoo o hindi,” Trillanes on Wednesday (February 7) wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Last January 31, Lascañas — a retired police officer — held his first free-for-all interview since he went into hiding after exposing FPRRD’s alleged hand in killings carried out between 2011 and early 2016.

He said the killings were allegedly executed by the DDS during Duterte’s term as vice mayor and later mayor of Davao.

Lascañas has been granted limited immunity by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is investigating Duterte’s alleged death squad and the drug war.

VP Sara vehemently denied the accusation against her, questioning the timing of Lascañas’ interview.

“All of a sudden, there is a witness against me following my election as Vice President. And now I am already one of the accused before the International Criminal Court,” VP Duterte said.

Cong Pulong has not yet issued his comment on Lascañas’ allegation against him as of this posting.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Liezelle Soriano

Former vice president Leni Robredo and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV have lauded the decision of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) to allow former senator Leila De Lima to post bail.

Robredo said that after six years of De Lima’s detention, the truth has finally prevailed.

“Matagal nating hinintay ang araw na ito, sa pananalig na ang tama at totoo ang palaging mananaig,” Robredo said.

“Pinatutunayang muli ngayon na walang basehan ang mga paratang laban kay Senator Leila. Ang lahat ng mga paninira at panggigipit na naranasan niya sa loob ng halos pitong taon ay bunga ng kaniyang pangangahas na tumindig para sa tama—para sa ating mga kababayan,” she added.

Robredo furthered that De Lima has been a source of inspiration for the people, saying that her courage and faith lent the people resolve to “continue fighting the good fight, to speak truth to power, and to keep believing that the Filipino people deserve so much more.”

The former vice president said that it was “a win for the country.”

Trillanes said that “it is the biggest step in her quest for justice and redemption.”

“The whole world will now know how Duterte misused and abused power to persecute those who dared stand up to his murderous regime,” the former senator said.

On Monday, De Lima’s counsel announced that the court allowed the lady senator to post bail amounting P300,000.

(ai/mnm)