MANILA, Philippines – Opposition legislators want the House of Representatives to pass a resolution denouncing the “unlawful” revocation of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s amnesty.

On Wednesday, September 5, several opposition lawmakers filed House Resolution (HR) No. 2155 expressing the “collective sentiment” of the House “denouncing the baseless, unlawful, and improvident” revocation of Trillanes’ amnesty by President Rodrigo Duterte.

If adopted at the plenary, HR 2155 would just express the opinion of the lower chamber on the amnesty revocation. It will not have the force of the law.

HR 2155 was filed by the following:

• Gary Alejano, Magdalo
• Teddy Baguilat Jr, Ifugao
• Jose Christopher Belmonte, Quezon City 6th District
• Emmanuel Billones, Capiz 1st District
• Arlene Brosas, Gabriela Women’s Party
• France Castro, Act Teachers
• Ariel Casilao, Anakpawis
• Raul Daza, Northern Samar 1st District
• Sarah Elago, Kabataan
• Edgar Erice, Caloocan City 2nd District
• Edcel Lagman, Albay 1st District
• Tom Villarin, Akbayan
• Carlo Zarate, Bayan Muna

They also want the House to push for the “recall” of Duterte’s Proclamation No. 572 voiding the grant of amnesty to Trillanes for supposedly failing to file for it and never admitting his guilt. 

Under HR 2155, the lawmakers said there is “other concrete evidence” documenting Trillanes’ application for amnesty, including photographs and video footage.

“The revocation of Sen. Trillanes’amnesty is unwarranted and unlawful because an amnesty is final, absolute, and irrevocable,” said the legislators.

They added that Section 19, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution mandates that there should be concurrence of the majority of all members of the House and Senate when a President grants an amnesty to an individual. 

The Constitution is silent on the revocation of amnesty, but the legislators believe “revocation, if allowable, must also have the concurrence of the Congress.”

Trillanes himself already showed proof to debunk the President’s claim. An old document obtained by Rappler also showed the Department of National Defense had certified Trillanes submitted an application for amnesty.

In October 2010, then-President Benigno Aquino III signed Proclamation 50, granting amnesty to Trillanes and others involved in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny and the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege against the administration of then-president and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Aquino later issued Proclamation 75 in November 2010, superseding Proclamation 50, and was concurred in by both chambers of Congress. Trillanes applied for amnesty in January 2011, and was granted amnesty, along with other officers and soldiers, that same month.

Trillanes had said he would not evade arrest. He remained in the Senate for now as his lawyers explored legal remedies to oppose Proclamation 572.

The Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 on Wednesday issued an order giving Trillanes 5 days to file his comment to the motion of the Department of Justice requesting an arrest warrant against him. The court will hear the DOJ’s motion on September 13. 

Vice President Leni Robredo said the opposition coalition stands by Trillanes.  

Read the full copy of HR 2144 below: 

– Rappler.com

Follow the developments here:

• Disobey Duterte’s ‘illegal orders,’ Alejano asks AFP, PNP
• Makati court can’t just reopen Trillanes case – IBP
• Trillanes amnesty application could’ve been ‘maliciously concealed’
• No warrant for now: Court gives Trillanes chance to challenge arrest request
• Amnesty of other Magdalo mutineers to be reviewed too – Roque
• Military can arrest Trillanes without warrant – DND
• Robredo: Opposition coalition stands with Trillanes
• Makati court can tackle validity of voiding Trillanes amnesty
• DND has another explanation for Trillanes’ missing amnesty papers
• Senate ‘militarization’? Senators hit AFP, PNP presence in compound
• Trillanes says DND may be charged for ‘losing’ his amnesty application
• DOCUMENTS: DND confirms Trillanes applied for amnesty
• Jail time now also possible for former mutineers turned Duterte appointees
• PNP: We sent CIDG to ensure Trillanes’ ‘legal’ arrest
• DOJ to seek warrant vs Trillanes in another court ‘but court martial faster’
• [WRAP] Day 2: Trillanes gets relief from court, DOJ seeks options