THE DAVAO City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 54 has ordered Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes IV to comment on the Department of Justice’s (DoJ) motion to issue a hold-departure order (HDO) against him for libel, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said.
“The Court gave Sen. Trillanes 5 days to comment/oppose our motion for the issuance of an HDO, as part of due process,” Mr. Guevarra said in a text message, adding that the motion has been “submitted for resolution.”
The Davao RTC Branch 54 is the same court that issued four arrest warrants against the senator on Dec. 7 over four counts of libel filed by former Davao City vice mayor and presidential son Paolo Z. Duterte.
The senator has also been ordered to post bail of P24,000 for each.
Messrs. Duterte and Carpio charged Mr. Trillanes of libel last Sept. 2018 after the senator alleged that they were involved in corruption and extortion, including ride-hailing services.
In a statement last Dec. 7, Mr. Trillanes said he was planning to turn himself in to police authorities once his warrant was out, but his lawyers said the prosecution prohibits arrests on minor cases on Fridays, weekends, and holidays.
“So, instead of turning myself in, which is apparently not possible under the circumstances, I will just post bail before the appropriate court on Monday,” he said.
He also criticized the current administration, saying, “Baliktad ang hustisya sa gobyerno ni Duterte. Ang mga mandarambong ay pinalaya na. Ang mga kritiko naman ay gagawan ng kaso para pilit na maikulong (Justice under the Duterte government is reversed. Plunderers are freed. Critics are charged over made-up cases to be detained),” he said.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo, meanwhile, said the senator should focus on facing his cases instead of attacking the administration.
“Everyone must be accountable for any wrongdoing or infraction of any law. His being a senator cannot excuse him from prosecution from those he has wronged. Instead of employing squid tactics and smearing the Administration, he should focus on the legal remedies available to him,” Mr. Panelo said yesterday.
In another development, Judge Elmo M. Alameda of Makati City RTC Branch 150 on Dec. 7 denied the appeal of the prosecution and upheld his Nov. 29 decision to partially lift the HDO against Mr. Trillanes as he has complied with the requirements of the court.
Mr. Trillanes plans to travel to the Netherlands, Spain, and United Kingdom from Dec. 11, 2018 to Jan. 12, 2019 to attend various meetings and activities. He will also go to the United States from Jan. 27 to Feb. 10, 2019.
A travel ban was issued against him by the Makati court on Sept. 25 for his rebellion case over the 2007 Manila Peninsula Siege after President Rodrigo R. Duterte voided his amnesty on Aug. 31 through Proclamation No. 572. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

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