spot_img
28 C
Philippines
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Cops prepare to arrest Trillanes

- Advertisement -

National Capital Region Police Office Chief Guillermo Eleazar said Sunday they had received a copy of the warrant of arrest against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV over the libel case filed against him by former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte.

“Yes, we already have a copy of the warrant of arrest against Senator Trillanes, which was issued by a court in Davao City,” Eleazar told Super Radyo dzBB.

He said the document was issued last Friday.

Eleazar made his statement even as one of Trillanes’ lawyers said Trillanes may not be arrested while Congress was in session, and even if a court had issued a warrant against him.

Trillanes “cannot be arrested” until the session was adjourned, Pacifico Agabin, former dean of the UP College of Law, told Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday.

- Advertisement -

In a statement issued later in the day, Eleazar said the NCRPO, on its own initiative, “secured copies of the four warrants of arrest for Trillanes over the four counts of libel against him in Regional Trial Court Branch 54 in Davao City.”

Duterte filed the libel complaints against Trillanes over the senator’s claims linking him to the smuggling of billions of pesos worth of shabu and to the extortion of ride-sharing firm Uber and other firms.

Branch 54 Judge Melinda Alconcel-Dayanghirang set the bail for Trillanes’ temporary liberty at P24,000, which the senator said he would process on Monday.

Eleazar said they had already coordinated with the office of the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate with regard to Trillanes’ case.

“Nakipag-ugnayan tayo sa Sergeant-at-Arms. Wala siya doon sa Senado nu’ng last Friday,” Eleazar said. 

“Wala rin siya doon [sa bahay].”

Nevertheless, Eleazar said, Trillanes would promptly process his posting of bail.

He also said they would abide by the constitutional provision saying a member of Congress may not be arrested while Congress is in session.     

Trillanes has said he is willing to turn himself in on Monday so he can post bail. 

Trillanes also recently faced arrest over the rebellion charges against him after President Rodrigo Duterte last month “revoked” the amnesty given to him in 2011.

- Advertisement -

LATEST NEWS

Popular Articles