Senator Antonio Trillanes IV talks to the media at his Senate office on Sept. 08, 2018. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News
MANILA- Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has reiterated his plea to dismiss the inciting to sedition and proposal to commit coup d’ etat complaint filed by Labor Undersecretary Jacinto Paras, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission Commisioner Manuelito Luna, and three others over his alleged prodding of soldiers to rebel against President Rodrigo Duterte.
Trillanes submitted his 18-page rejoinder-affidavit to the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday, citing anew parliamentary immunity and the "failure" of complainants Paras, Luna, Nasser Marohomsalic, Eligio Mallari, and Alvaro Bernabe Lazaro to prove their case.
“The alleged media conversation/interview of respondent Senator is covered by his parliamentary immunity, and hence, any statement made therein cannot be the basis of either criminal or civil action; the complainants have utterly failed to allege and/or establish the venue of the alleged offenses or the fact that the alleged offenses were committed within the territorial jurisdiction of [the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office].
“The elements of conspiracy and/or proposal to commit coup d’ etat have not been sufficiently proven by complainants… Hence, the dismissal of the subject cases is in order…,” Trillanes’ rejoinder stated.
He downplayed the complaint for “utterly” failing to establish the venue of the alleged offenses, as well as his purported acts that incident the people “to rise publicly or tumultuously for the accomplishment of any of the objects of sedition under Article 142 of [the Revised Penal Code].”
“Hence, there is no probable cause to hold respondent liable for ‘inciting to sedition.’”
Trillanes also explained complainants have no personal knowledge of their claims.
Trillanes is currently facing a separate resurrected rebellion case before a Makati City Regional Trial Court for his participation in the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege.
The case was reopened after President Duterte voided his amnesty grant via Proclamation 572.