Guevarra accuses Trillanes camp of influencing Makati court
Published Oct 15, 2018 03:16 pm
By Jeffrey Damicog
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has warned the camp of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV could be cited for contempt for allegedly trying to influence a Makati City court to rule in favor of the lawmaker.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
(TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Guevarra made the accusation after supporters of Trillanes on Monday morning left flowers attached with appeals at the office of Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 148 Judge Andres Soriano. “That's exactly the kind of pressure that has been exerted upon Judge Soriano,” Guevarra told reporters. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has a pending motion before Soriano whom it asked to issue an arrest warrant and hold departure order (HDO) against Trillanes. Soriano is handling the coup d’etat case against Trillanes concerning his participation in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny. Some of the flowers left by supporters had cardboards attached with written words which include “rule of law,” “judicial independence” and “integrity.” The supporters also left a letter thanking Soriano for “standing strong and making the right decisions in spite of the pressures and challenges.” “Some people have made it appear that any ruling against Senator Trillanes will be a deathblow to democracy and the rule of law,” lamented Guevarra. “Even a first-year law student will tell you that such acts tending to influence the decision of the judge are a clear and punishable case of contempt of court,” the secretary warned. The DOJ filed the motion after President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation NO. 572 which declared as “void ab initio” or void from the start the amnesty given to Trillanes over his participation in the Oakwood mutiny and the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege. Trillanes has already posted a P200,000 bail after Judge Elmo Alameda of Makati RTC Branch 150, who is handling the rebellion case concerning the Manila Peninsula siege, granted the DOJ’s motion to issue an arrest warrant and HDO against the senator.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra(TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Guevarra made the accusation after supporters of Trillanes on Monday morning left flowers attached with appeals at the office of Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 148 Judge Andres Soriano. “That's exactly the kind of pressure that has been exerted upon Judge Soriano,” Guevarra told reporters. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has a pending motion before Soriano whom it asked to issue an arrest warrant and hold departure order (HDO) against Trillanes. Soriano is handling the coup d’etat case against Trillanes concerning his participation in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny. Some of the flowers left by supporters had cardboards attached with written words which include “rule of law,” “judicial independence” and “integrity.” The supporters also left a letter thanking Soriano for “standing strong and making the right decisions in spite of the pressures and challenges.” “Some people have made it appear that any ruling against Senator Trillanes will be a deathblow to democracy and the rule of law,” lamented Guevarra. “Even a first-year law student will tell you that such acts tending to influence the decision of the judge are a clear and punishable case of contempt of court,” the secretary warned. The DOJ filed the motion after President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation NO. 572 which declared as “void ab initio” or void from the start the amnesty given to Trillanes over his participation in the Oakwood mutiny and the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege. Trillanes has already posted a P200,000 bail after Judge Elmo Alameda of Makati RTC Branch 150, who is handling the rebellion case concerning the Manila Peninsula siege, granted the DOJ’s motion to issue an arrest warrant and HDO against the senator.