Trillanes Is Not Politically-Oppressed: Palace

MANILA — Malacañang on Thursday denied that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is a victim of political oppression.

“Anong political oppression ang sinasabi nila? Wala nga tigil ang mga banat nya kay President (What political oppression are they talking about? He is relentless in attacking the President),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview with Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary and blogger Margaux “Mocha” Uson.

“Siya ang patunay na gumagana ang demokrasya sa Pilipinas dahil walang tigil ang banat nya sa President at sa pamilya ng President. So walang katuturan yan (He is proof that democracy is working in the Philippines because of his relentless attack against the President and the family of the President. So it is not true),” he added.

Roque said even the government institutions are well functioning as proven by Trillanes’ petition at the Supreme Court against Proclamation 572 that declared void ab initio (from the beginning) the senator’s amnesty granted by former president Benigno Aquino III.

He defended Duterte’s proclamation which, he clarified, declared void ab initio and not revoked Trillanes’ amnesty.

“So wala tayong ninire-revoke. Ang sinasabi lang natin hindi nagkaroon ng bisa yan. Kinakailangan na ibalik sa kulungan si Trillanes (We are not revoking anything. What we are saying is it (amnesty) did not take effect. Trillanes should be put back to jail),” Roque said.

Aside from failure to comply with the minimum requirements of the amnesty proclamation, Roque said Trillanes has violated the terms and conditions of the amnesty.

“Walang aplikasyon na nahanap ang gobyerno sa official file. Walang tunay na pag-aamin sa krimen nya ginawa doon sa Oakwood mutiny at saka walang pagsisi at pagtigil sa paglabag sa batas ng pagtawag na dapat ang military at hindi suportahan ang tinalaga ng taumbayan na president yan po ay violation din ng kanyang amnesty,”

(The government found no application in official file. There is no admission to the crimes he committed in Oakwood mutiny and there was no repentance and no stopping in violating laws by calling on military not to support the elected President. That is violation of his amnesty.)

Roque said the government is after accountability when Duterte voided Trillanes’ amnesty.

“Palagi ko sinasabi na kahit sino ka man, kahit gaano ka kasikat, kung may ginagawa kang masama, eh magkakaroon ng pagkakataon na makahabol ang pananagutan (I’ve been saying regardless of who you are, even if you are popular, if you committed wrongdoing, there will be a time that you will be made accountable), he said. (PNA)