In January 2011, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV filed a “general admission of guilt” and was granted amnesty under proclamation 75 issued by President Noynoy Aquino and concurred in by both houses of Congress.
Today, Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation 572 revoking that grant and ordering the Senator’s immediate arrest and detention for his alleged “failure to apply for amnesty and refusal to admit his guilt.”
The President cannot by himself revoke an amnesty granted with concurrence of Congress. The revocation itself is pure deception since Senator Trillanes publicly filed his amnesty application and there is no legal requirement for admission as proved by People vs Vera, the very case cited in the Proclamation itself. Furthermore, Duterte’s arrest order is a usurpation of judicial power and is an outright violation of the Constitution.
Thus, this latest move defies reason and impales justice. It is typical Duterte.
Duterte’s powerlust, fueled by his cohorts Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Bongbong Marcos, has authored the systematic assault on the rights and freedoms of his most vocal opponents: first Senator Leila De Lima, then Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, now Senator Trillanes.
It has authorized the death of a multitude in his war on drugs.
Mr. Duterte, your rank defiance of the Constitution fills our beloved Philippines with the stench of injustice. By your arbitrary, unlawful acts, you have exposed yourself. The Filipino people are repulsed by your shameful inadequacy to address our nation’s woes.
The Coalition for Justice denounces your policy of persecution. We stand with the targets of your viciousness and resist your totalitarian agenda. We unite with all freedom-loving Filipinos and cry out NEVER AGAIN to dictatorship!
