Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and his co-accused will be arraigned next week on charges of conspiracy to commit sedition over their alleged involvement in the attempt to overthrow President Rodrigo Duterte through the propagation of the controversial “Ang Totoong Narcolist” viral videos purportedly implicating the first family to the illegal drug trades in the country.
Assistant State Prosecutor Michael Humarang, a member of the panel of prosecutors who conducted the preliminary investigation of the case, said the arraignment will be held on March 17.
“They will be arraigned this March 17,” Humarang said.
The case has been raffled off to the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 38.
But the Department of Justice’s prosecutor said that the panel has yet to receive an order from Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento if the same panel will also be handling the prosecution of the accused in court.
Aside from Trillanes, also charged for conspiracy to commit sedition include Peter Joemel Advincula, alias Bikoy; Police Sr. Supt. Eduardo Acierto; Joel Saracho, Boom Enriquez; Yolanda V. Ong; Vicente Romano III; Fr. Albert E. Alejo; Fr. Flaviano Villanueva; Jonnel P. Sangalang; and a certain Monique.
The case arose from the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” video series which was released online back in April 2019 and became viral over the Internet.
The videos, which featured the hooded Bikoy, accused a number of personalities including members of President Duterte’s family as being involved in illegal drugs activities.
In its resolution, the DOJ prosecutor panel found sufficient basis to indict Trillanes and others of committing conspiracy to commit sedition “by circulating malicious and scurrilous libels and fabricating evidence against him (Duterte) and his immediate family members, making it appear that the President and his family are engaged in a drug trade syndicate, with no other purpose but to inflict an act of hate or revenge against the President of the Philippines and his immediate family members.”