By Ronron
February 6, 2007
Lt. Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV, the leader of the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, is already deemed resigned from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) upon his filing Tuesday of candidacy for the Senatorial race this May.
AFP Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said the separation from the service of the Navy officer is sanctioned by law among government employees who wish to seek elective positions.
But Bacarro said the AFP will continue to have jurisdiction over Trillanes because there is an ongoing case against him before the General Court Martial.
Trillanes is currently being tried for alleged violation of Articles of War 96 (conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman), along with 28 other officers who are tagged as the core leaders of the failed mutiny.
A separate coup d’ etat case was filed against him and is currently being heard at the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 for the same incident.
“The military has established jurisdiction over the person of Lt. Trillanes. So, even if we say that he is already separated from the service, we can still subject him to detention,” Bacarro said.
He said the same is true even if Trillanes wins, saying: “Winning an elective position would not exonerate you from any criminal liability.”
Asked if Trillanes has a following from the AFP, Bacarro replied in the negative.
“Me, personally, no,” said Bacarro when asked if he will vote for Trillanes.
Bacarro belittled the warm welcome Trillanes got from the employees of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) when the latter filed his candidacy yesterday.
“That is only a miniscule in the total population of the Philippines,” Bacarro said of the crowd that swarmed Trillanes at the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila.
The 35-year-old officer is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy in 1995./DMS
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