MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte is “reinventing or redefining the law to suit political agenda,” Edre Olalia of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers said in a statement on Tuesday, September 4.

“’Toe the line or get out of the way’ is the unmistakeable message. Who’s next on the chopping block? Duterte and his strongman state can practically do anything,” said Olalia. 

President Rodrigo Duterte revoked also on Tuesday the 2010 amnesty granted to opposition senator Antonio Trillanes IV, “effective immediately.” He signed Proclamation No. 572, declaring Trillanes’ amnesty “void ab initio.”

Proclamation 572 orders Trillanes’ immediate arrest, for which the senator said he is ready. 

It will be another test case for Duterte’s administration.

Section 19, Article VII, of the 1987 Constitution states that the President has the “power to grant amnesty with the concurrence of a majority of all the Members of the Congress.” But it is silent on the requirement to revoke the amnesty. 

One legal view is that because all acts of Congress have the effect of a law, revoking the amnesty should also be like revoking a law, an act that needs congressional concurrence.

But Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, who has been assigned officer-in-charge of the country while Duterte and his delegation is in Israel, said Congress’ concurrence is not needed because the grant of amnesty is “void ab initio.” 

Void ab initio means it never had a legal effect from the start. 

First impression

Constitutional law professor Dan Gatmaytan said that because there is no textual basis for the revocation, “it is a case of first impression.”

In the Duterte administration, there have been other cases of first impression, such as the quo warranto ouster of Maria Lourdes Sereno as chief justice, which Solicitor General Jose Calida won by a vote of 8-6. 

Currently, Calida is facing oral arguments in the Supreme Court over the Philippine withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC). It’s another case of first impression. 

In an interview at the Senate on Tuesday, Trillanes accused Calida of masterminding the revocation because the senator’s committee was set to hear the alleged impropriety of the government contracts won by the Solicitor General’s family-owned security firm.

Gatmaytan said Trillanes can go to the courts and question the validity of the proclamation. – Rappler.com

Follow the developments here:

• Duterte revokes Trillanes’ amnesty ‘effective immediately’
• Trillanes vows to face arrest: ‘Mr Duterte, hindi ako takot sa iyo’
• Revocation of Trillanes’ amnesty ‘clear act of revenge’ – Alejano
• DOCUMENT: Proclamation No. 572 voiding Trillanes’ amnesty
• ‘Nothing political’ in Trillanes amnesty revocation, says Malacañang
• Trillanes amnesty ‘absolute, irrevocable’ – Lagman
• Noynoy Aquino says Duterte should ‘respect, recognize’ Trillanes amnesty
• Opposition senators to fight ‘illegal, abusive’ Duterte order vs Trillanes
• DOJ’s Guevarra: Trillanes may ask Duterte for clemency
• Where is Trillanes’ amnesty application? ‘Hinahanap pa,’ says DND
• Robredo: Trillanes amnesty revocation proves admin out to silence critics
• Calida evasive on role in voiding Trillanes amnesty 
• Without amnesty, Trillanes’ retirement voided too
• Panelo: State protecting itself from ‘political offender’
• After Duterte arrest order, Trillanes to stay in Senate for now
• DOJ applies for warrant and Hold Departure Order vs Trillanes
• Voided Trillanes amnesty appears to be ‘attempt to silence dissent’ – CHR
• Calida behind search for Trillanes’ amnesty papers
• LOOK: Trillanes shows proof of amnesty application
• AFP on revocation of Trillanes’ amnesty: ‘Just following orders’
• Duterte voiding Trillanes’ amnesty: Everything you need to know
• Lawmakers, parties hit ‘cowardly’ Duterte for voiding Trillanes’ amnesty
• Trillanes may be forced to go to the Supreme Court