Trillanes may seek to nullify Proclamation 572

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV is contemplating on filing a mo- tion for reconsideration before a Makati City court to nullify the validity of President Duterte’s Proclamation 572, which voided the amnesty granted to the senator.

Reynaldo Robles, lawyer for Trillanes, said the Department of Justice (DOJ) is using the proclamation to invalidate the senator’s amnesty after Judge Andres Soriano of the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 affirmed its legality.

“The DOJ is trying to use it to undermine the court’s decision,” Robles said.

On Oct. 22, the court upheld the validity of Duterte’s proclamation voiding the amnesty granted to Trillanes. But the judge denied the DOJ’s petition for the issuance of an arrest warrant and hold departure order against the senator.

In response, the DOJ filed a motion on Oct. 25, asking the court to partially reconsider its decision as it acknowledged the validity of Duterte’s proclamation.

“The prosecution’s motion for partial reconsideration shows that the President and the DOJ are overreaching. They are saying that the proclamation would nullify the decision of the court issued seven years ago,” Robles said.

“If that is the intent then the proclamation should be nullified by the court because it becomes illegal and unconstitutional because the President is trying to arrogate unto himself the power to nullify previous court decisions,” he added.

Soriano, handling the rebellion case of Trillanes, heard yesterday the motion for partial reconsideration of the DOJ.

The court ordered Trillanes to file his comment within 15 days.

Robles said they would file Trillanes’ comment before the Supreme Court on his petition questioning Duterte’s proclamation.