By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV won't leave the Senate premises following the Supreme Court ruling on his petition against the voiding of his amnesty.
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV
(Czar Dancel / MANILA BULLETIN)
Trillanes said his colleagues have advised him not to leave yet as he stood pat on his claim that the order for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to arrest him remains.
"I was advised by some senators to stay here for the time being until it is clarified. I have been trying to get categorical statements from the AFP on whether they would still arrest me or not. Their answer: they will arrest me," Trillanes told reporters in a press briefing following the televised interview of President Duterte Tuesday afternoon.
The opposition senator pointed out that the Philippine National Police already stated that it will enforce Duterte's proclamation No. 572 if a warrant is issued by courts.
But since the SC denied his petition for a temporary restraining order, Trillanes said the AFP is bent on arresting him.
He also cited the statements made by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque that there were no more legal impediments on the enforcing the proclamation.
The SC, Trillanes reiterated, took note of Duterte's pronouncements that he will allow judicial process to take over, in referring the resolution to his case to the Makati Regional Trial Court.
When asked about the source of his claim about the standing arrest order, Trillanes said it was from his "direct engagements" with the AFP. He refused to divulge whether or not his sources were ranking officials privy to the supposed order.
"Wala ngang official statement ang AFP...ibig sabihin no'on, hindi binababa 'yong order or talagang walang planong ibaba. Sa akin , tanungin nyo 'yong Armed Forces, get a categorical statement from them, then malalaman natin," he told reporters.
Aside from minority senators, Trillanes said some members of the majority bloc supported his staying in the Senate. He did not name them likewise.
Trillanes said he has talked to Senate President Vicente Sotto III about his staying in Senate.
"Their decision remain, that kung 'yong proclamation lang ang basis to have me arrested, hindi pa rin irerecognize," he said.