By Ronron
June 14, 2007
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will not oppose the attendance today (Friday) of resigned Lt. Sr. Grade Antonio Trillanes IV at his proclamation as winning Senatorial candidate at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Manila City.
Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan, Public Information Officer of the Philippine Marines Corps (PMC) where Trillanes is currently detained, said that should there be an order from the Makati City Regional Trial Court allowing Trillanes to leave detention, the military will comply with it and even provide security escort to accused mutineer.
“The military is not above the law. We always comply with whatever the civilian court orders in the case of Mr. Trillanes,” Caculitan said in a phone interview.
He said that based on previous incidents, the military has not sought similar order from the General Court Martial (GCM), where Trillanes is also facing alleged violation of the Articles of War, every time he has to leave detention sanctioned by the Makati court.
“Ever since, his custodians at the Philippine Marine Brig were content with even just a court order from the Makati RTC,” Caculitan said.
Trillanes’ lawyer, Reynaldo Robles, has filed yesterday (Thursday) afternoon an urgent motion before the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 148 to allow his client to attend the proclamation rites set at 9:30 am today at the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila.
Robles said Judge Oscar Pimentel vowed to act on the motion late Thursday or early Friday morning.
“We are grateful that the government prosecution is not posing any objection to our motion,” Robles said.
Trillanes is declared the 11th Senator for the incoming 14th Congress of the Philippines after the Comelec canvassed the votes from Surigao del Norte.
Trillanes is in jail due to his cases before the GCM and the civilian court over the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny./DMS
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