FOLLOWING the revocation of the amnesty granted to Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Malacañang on Wednesday, September 5, denied allegations that President Rodrigo Duterte is trying to silence his critics.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. maintained that the President was merely fulfilling his duty as chief implementor of the laws of the land when he decided to revoke the amnesty of Trillanes, one of his vocal critics.
"Wala pong ganoong nais ni Presidente na tumatahimik ang oposisyon (The President does not want to silence the opposition)," Roque said in a radio interview.
"Naniniwala po ang Presidente sa kalayaan ng malayang pagsasalita. Si Presidente lamang, kapag ikaw ay lumabag sa batas, pananagutin ka dahil iyan naman po ay katungkulan ni Presidente, na ipatupad ang ating mga batas," he added.
(Our President believes in the right to free speech. The President only holds you accountable if you violate the law because that's the mandate of the President, to implement the laws.)
Trillanes, a former Navy officer who was detained for his involvement in uprisings against former President and now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was granted amnesty by then President Benigno Aquino III through Proclamation 75 signed on November 24, 2010.
On August 31, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation 572, revoking Trillanes's amnesty and ordering the opposition lawmaker's arrest.
Duterte, in his proclamation, claimed that Trillanes failed to submit the Official Amnesty Application Form and admit his guilt, which are needed to be granted amnesty.
Trillanes dismissed Duterte's move as a "clear case of political persecution."
The senator's allies also backed him, saying that the revocation of his amnesty was apparently an attempt to silence the opposition.
Roque said Duterte's decision to void the amnesty of the opposition lawmaker was already "final."
He reiterated that Trillanes can challenge Duterte's proclamation before a competent court.
"Tingin ko po, iyan na po ay pinal na desisyon na ng ehekutibo. Ang pwede niyang gawin ay pumunta sa hukuman at sabihin na mali 'yung ginawa ng ehekutibo," he said.
(I think the executive's decision is already final. Still, he can go to court and protest the execution's action.) (VoxPop Philippines)
