Although he has yet to receive a copy of a warrant of arrest against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, National Capital Region Police Office chief Police Director Guillermo Eleazar said the police will be monitoring the whereabouts of the opposition senator.
Eleazar said they are still waiting for a copy of the warrant, which was issued by Judge Melinda Alconcel-Dayanghirang of the Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 54.
In the warrant, Judge Dayanghirang ordered the arrest of Trillanes for libel, a bailable offense.
The judge set the bail at P24,000.
Named as complainant in the warrant was former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, the President’s son, who filed the complaint against Trillanes over the senator’s allegations linking him to the smuggling of billions worth of shabu.
“Ang pinakamagandang gawin natin is monitor his whereabouts so that ‘pag magkaroon na tayo ng hawak na warrant, we can inform him na meron tayong ganoon,” Eleazar said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.
“Saturday naman ngayon, so wala naman magiging problema kung ito man ay [matatanggap] sa susunod na araw, bukas, hanggang sa Monday makakakuha kami ng kopya,” he added.
The NCRPO chief said that Trillanes has invoked his right as a member of Congress not to be arrested in cases punishable by less than six years imprisonment while Congress is in session.
Eleazar, however, acknowledged Trillanes’ move to coordinate with them and voluntarily surrender.
“Pero ang maganda naman po niyan ay nagpahayag din siya at nakarating sa atin na siya po ay kusang loob din naman na magsu-surrender or magvo-voluntarily undergo ng process para siya ay humarap sa korte at mag-post ng bail just like what he has done nu’ng magkaroon ng warrant of arrest du’n sa kudeta na hinarap niya noong isang buwan,” he said.
The NCRPO chief added that he does not see the need to tighten security at the Senate.
“Hindi naman po kailangan kasi experience naman natin, kung ‘yun nga pong kaso ng kudeta eh kusang loob siyang in-abridge ‘yung sarili niya, para du’n sa proseso,” he said.
Eleazar said Trillanes may not travel abroad on Dec. 11 without posting bail.
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