MAGDALO party-list Representative Gary Alejano said the revocation of the amnesty of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is clear indication that the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte wants to run after the opposition.
"What is sad as they have pressed on something that is without basis," Alejano said over Aksyon Radyo Bacolod on Tuesday, September 4.
"Their reason was Senator Trillanes has allegedly failed to apply personally his amnesty and did not admit his guilt. But those are baseless. We have a recorded video that he applied personally for his amnesty. We were there with him when he applied for it. It would be impossible that one will be granted with amnesty without complying with the requirements," he said.
Alejano said there was no case left against Trillanes.
The rebellion and coup d'etat cases were all dismissed.
The administrative cases filed before the Court Martial were all resolved where the maximum penalty was discharged in service, Alejano said.
"When he filed his certificate of candidacy in the 2007 national elections, he was deemed resigned. Thus, he was not already covered under the jurisdiction of the Court Martial," he said.
He said that they will not allow the President to do this thing even if without legal basis.
Amnesty is a prerogative of the President and any succeeding President cannot just withdraw it, he added.
When they did this to Senator Trillanes and also to Senator Leila De Lima and former Supreme Court justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, they can do this to anybody.
Alejano thanked the Senate that they did not allow the arrest of Senator Trillanes on September 4.
The President, he said, cannot accept criticisms. But it does not mean that we will just allow him to do this thing.
