By Ronron
March 6, 2007
Opposition senatorial candidate resigned Navy Lt. Sr. Grade Antonio Trillanes IV attended his coup d’ etat case hearing at the Makati City Regional Trial Court Tuesday morning already in civilian clothes, and still in handcuffs.
Trillanes, one of the core leaders of the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, was deemed resigned from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) when he filed his candidacy for Senator before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) exactly a month ago yesterday.
“It’s okay with me because while my colleagues are still handcuffed, I should also be in handcuffs,” Trillanes wrote in Filipino when asked how he feels that his hands remain tied.
Trillanes joins the two Navy enlisted personnel also charged with coup d’ etat at the same court in wearing civilian clothes when attending the hearing. Only 27 of the 31 accused were in attendance in yesterday’s hearing.
While he was not allowed to talk in front of media gadgets, Trillanes was not stopped by his military guards from responding to reporters in writing during the course of yesterday’s hearing.
This even as the court still has to rule on his motion seeking media access to be able to reach out to the Filipino electorate for his platform.
During the proceedings, Judge Oscar Pimentel of Makati RTC Branch 148 said he will come out with a resolution on said motion at the latest this morning (Wednesday).
Asked how his campaign is going while he remains in detention at the Marine headquarters in Taguig City, Trillanes said: “Our campaign is doing well. Many people are expressing their support.”
He admitted though that they are not abundant with regard to funds and resources.
The Genuine Opposition (GO) adopted Trillanes as among its 11 senatorial candidates.
Asked if his continued detention is a form of pressure against his candidacy, Trillanes wrote: “Yes, apparently. Some misguided leaders in the AFP actually believe that the results of this coming elections are in their hands. At some point, they should accept the fact that the voters would decide my fate.”
His spokesman, Ronaldo Averilla, revealed that since last week, his visitors were subjected to stricter inspection procedures.
Visitation hours were also restricted from 9am to 11am, and 2pm to 5pm, as against the previous arrangement where visitors are allowed anytime, said Averilla. At each time also, only three visitors are allowed.
Further, visitors are not allowed to wear Trillanes’ campaign shirts and use vehicles with Magdalo markings inside the Marine headquarters.
But Marines spokesman Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan said the ban is just in compliance with AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon’s directive to prohibit any campaign activities inside military camps.
“We are not targeting him. It’s just that political campaigns are banned inside our camp,” Caculitan said.
He also said that there is nothing new with the visitation restrictions against Trillanes.
“The restrictions were there even before. He cannot have special privileges now just because he is running for the Senate,” Caculitan said./DMS
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