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Friday, March 29, 2024

Trillanes, 9 others ordered arrested

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A Quezon City has ordered the arrest of former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and nine others after the Justice department charged them with conspiracy to commit sedition, over their role in an alleged plot to oust President Rodrigo Duterte through the propagation of the so-called “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos.

Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Judge Kristine Grace Suarez also ordered the arrest of Trillanes’s co-accused Peter Joemel “Bikoy” Advincula, Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, Fr. Albert Alejo, Boom Enriquez, Yoly Ong-Villanueva, Jonnell Sanggalang, JM Saracho, Eduardo Acierto, Vicente Romano and a certain “Monique.”

Bail was set at P10,000 for each of the accused, while the arraignment is set for March 17.

The case against Trillanes and others arose from the testimony of Advincula, who confessed that he was “Bikoy,” the hooded narrator in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” series of videos, which he said the opposition leaders used to discredit President Duterte and his allies by linking his family to the illegal drug trade in the country.

Advincula alleged that the Ang Totoong Narcolist videos were part of the plot to oust the President.

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While the DOJ found probable cause to prosecute Trillanes and his co-accused of conspiracy to commit sedition, the prosecutors cleared other opposition leaders, including Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Leila de Lima, and Risa Hontiveros, and former Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV of charges.

Advincula, one of the witnesses presented by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to back up its complaint, was included among the accused in the conspiracy. Currently held in a safehouse, he is expected to go to court on Monday or Tuesday to post bail.

Prosecutors said they will have to consider moving for Advincula’s discharge as a state witness. They also said they may present other witnesses in court.

Villanueva and Alejo already posted bail on Friday, prompting the Quezon City court to recall the warrants.

Trillanes said he will face the charges, which he described as harassment, and will post bail when he returns to the country next week.

“I am out of the country as of the moment for a series of engagements. But I intend to post bail once I arrive in Manila late next week,” Trillanes said.

“I will face this case just as I have faced all the other harassment cases Duterte’s minions have filed against me,” he added.

A spokesman for the Philippine National Police said it is ready to arrest Trillanes and his nine co-accused.

READ: ‘Narco video’ haunts Leni, Trillanes

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