Aquino says coup charge vs Trillanes 'unjust'
MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on Friday labeled as unjust a coup charge against former Navy Lt. Senior Grade and now Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for his involvement in the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny.
Aquino said he has ordered Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to review the coup charge against Trillanes since the elements of a coup were not present during the short-lived mutiny.
"Trillanes was first incarcerated by virtue of the charge of participating in a coup. However, if you review the Revised Penal Code, there is a provision that says a coup is committed if there is a swift, violent attack. Then there’s an enumeration. The enumeration does not include a hotel," he said at the inauguration of the Philippine National Police School of Values and Leadership (SVL) in Subic Freeport Zone, Zambales.
He added: "[Trillanes] was imprisoned because of Oakwood. My opinion is, and that is just my individual opinion, the fiscal should not have let that case prosper. There are several other cases but the coup d'etat case has specific requirements, which were not present. I think there was injustice there."
Aquino said he will leave it to de Lima to review the case thoroughly. He added that the government will leave it to the court to decide on Trillanes's petition asking that he be allowed to participate in the Senate sessions.
Trillanes, along with 300 junior officers and soldiers, took over the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center (now Ascott Makati) on July 27, 2003 and demanded that President Arroyo and other government leaders step down from office due to corruption. The group later surrendered to authorities less than 24 hours after taking over the apartment tower.
Trillanes has been in jail since 2003 but was still able to win a seat in the Senate during the 2007 election. He has not been allowed to participate in any of the Senate sessions because of security risks.
Trillanes' lawyer, Rey Robles, earlier urged Aquino to follow the example set by his mother, former President Cory Aquino, and free all political prisoners at the start of his term.
He said his client is asking the President to allow him to participate in the Senate sessions either personally or through teleconferencing. He said there have been examples in other countries where a legislator is still allowed to continue his duties even while facing a court case.
