A military lawyer today said the Armed Forces might not allow newly proclaimed senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a former Navy officer who was among those who led the short-lived Oakwood mutiny, to attend sessions in the Senate.
Lt. Col. Jose Feliciano Loi said under the military justice system, detainees cannot leave their place of confinement.
Trillanes, who is detained at the Marines headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City for the mutiny, is charged under the Articles of War, specifically for violation of Article 96 or conduct unbecoming an officer.
Trillanes is also facing a charge of coup d’état before the Makati regional trial court. The court has denied his motion for bail more than two years ago.
But the Makati RTC allowed Trillanes to leave detention to file his candidacy at the Commission on Elections office in Manila. He was also allowed to attend his proclamation last Friday although the military blocked his temporary release from detention by insisting that he also needed the military’s permission last Friday. AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon later relented and dispensed with the military permission requirement.
Loi cited the case of Rep. Romeo Jalosjos who was convicted of rape.
“Since he has no bail, he is detained, there is conviction. Although re-elected as congressman, he cannot attend the session in Congress. Probably, that will also apply to the good Senator-elect Sonny Trillanes,” he said.
Loi also said that under the Articles of War, military personnel accused before a military tribunal are not allowed to post bail.
“He may not be allowed to attend the sessions before the Senate if there is no court order or there is no approval from the GCM (general court martial.”
“There is no bail at the GCM, unless the convening authority (Esperon) will be liberal enough to give him temporary passes so that he can attend the sessions in Senate. I think it will be good for the democracy.”
Loi said there is no provision in the Articles of War which states that a detainee can be given temporary passes. “There is none. Once you are charged before a court martial, you are restricted to quarters. So if you are restricted to quarters, how can you attend the proceedings?” he said.
Trillanes was deemed resigned from the service when he filed his candidacy in February. However, the military retained its jurisdiction over him insofar as his case before the court martial because he committed the violation when he was still in the active service.
Trillanes, then with the rank of lieutenant senior grade, led about 300 junior officers and men in taking over the Oakwood apartments in July 2003.
Militant groups asked Trillanes to make good on his promise to investigate forced disappearances of activists and the existence of “death squads” in the Armed Forces, which are being said to be behind the killings of militants.
Trillanes, in interviews after his proclamation, said death squads were usually composite teams from intelligence units of the different service commands of the Armed Forces. He also said these groups operate “above the regular units” of the AFP and are used on a “case to case basis.”
The human rights group Karapatan has recorded more than 800 killings and nearly 200 abductions of political activists since President Arroyo assumed office in 2001.
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and fishermen’s group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said Trillanes should summon retired Maj. Gen. (ret.) Jovito Palparan, who was tagged by militant groups as “The Butcher,” and Maj. Gen. Delfin Bangit, chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp), in the planned Senate investigation.
Renato Reyes, Bayan secretary general, said Trillanes’ statements confirmed the existence of “special intelligence units involved in the killings.”
“No other military officer, active or retired, has so far offered such a categorical and detailed description of these special units. Whether they are part of the regular uniformed units or not, these groups are likely enjoying the support of the military leadership that is why they are acting with impunity,” Reyes also said.
Palparan has been tagged by the Melo Commission as responsible for the killings under his watch as Army commander in Central Luzon.
Bangit has been summoned by the Commission on Human Rights to explain the disappearance of Jonas Burgos, an activist from Bulacan.
Initial circumstantial evidence shows military involvement in the abduction of Burgos.
“Bangit for his part should be probed for admitting the existence of a so-called Order of Battle against alleged enemies of the state. The OB is a virtual hit list as explained by United Nations special rapporteur Philip Alston in his report. The fact that this practice exists already shows the AFP’s complicity in the killings,” Reyes said.
Reyes said Trillanes should also convince his cavaliers in the Senate to support the probe into the killings, referring to Senators Rodolfo Biazon, Panfilo Lacson and Gregorio Honasan who like Trillanes are products of the Philippine Military Academy.
“As former members of the military, they should at least be concerned that the AFP has been tagged here and abroad as a notorious human rights violator. They should help in making the AFP leadership accountable under the principle of command responsibility,” Reyes said.
National security adviser Norberto Gonzales said government forces have nothing to hide if summoned in the probe.
He said they have faced several lawmakers and other investigating bodies over the issue in the past and Trillanes’ probe would be no different.
But Trillanes must first settle the issue of whether he would be allowed to perform his new duty as senator considering he has pending cases, Gonzales said.
“Let’s see what will happen…Wala naman kasing problema sa amin iyan, especially sa AFP… Let’s see how Trillanes will do his job. May problema pa nga (siya) kasi may kaso pa siya, so ang tanong, paano nga niya magagawa ang trabaho niya?” he said.
He defended Esperon, saying the military chief was only implementing military rules.
“He doesn’t want to jeopardize the court martial proceedings, unless magkaroon ng law reforming it. Dapat lang na suportahan ang mga sinasabi ni General Esperon,” he said. – With JP Lopez and Jocelyn Montemayor
Oh yeah! Then, let them prove if the Philippines is really a democracy which is a government OF, FOR and BY the people, not a government by some crooks who cannot even make a good interpretation of their country’s laws.
I just can’t understand why these crooks resort to this kind of threat and intimidation. Ang dali namang magrebolusyon kung iyan ang gusto ng mga animal!
Esperon? Who is he anyway? He is just one of those public servants. He is in fact. He just probably imagines himself as being a favored one but not by the people for sure, but by just one as crooked as he is. Kuratong, baba na!
Really now ?!
In an earlier thread, Ms. Ellen quoted from a Mr. Manuel Abrenica (June 17th, 2007 at 3:17 pm) where he says that “..isa lang ang sagot na dapat initindihin ng naka uniporme:
Section 3, Article II ng Philippine Constitution-
Section 3. Civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military. The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people and the State. Its goal is to secure the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of the national territory.
Nagsalita na rin ang taong bayan sa pamamagitan ng balota para kay Trillanes. Sila ang supreme authority sa isang demokrasya.”
What is so hard to understand ???? Only those who have difficulty facing reality & accepting the truth are confused. If they continue to defy Civilian Authority, they have a very big problem.
There is a BIG difference between Senator Trillanes & Esperon. The Ass was merely appointed by Gloria – this should not carry much weight. Trillanes was voted by 11 million people to be a Senator – this carries a lot of weight.
Well, well, well, they’ve forgotten Esperon has only one supporter, the Unano, the illegal occupant of Malakanyang herself! Iyang mga Alipores ng pekeng unano, are acting not only hungry pigs but wild dying dogs as well! They keep on barking even in their wildest dreams!!!
Di, magkakasubukan nga! Enong tinatakot nila?
The Filipino electorate is the jury and the judge in the case of Antonio Trillanes Versus Gloria Arroyo. The 11+ million voters approved the 2003 Oakwood protest action against Gloria and her corrupt military. They are convinced that Gloria Arroyo has no popular mandate. The Arroyo government has a weak case against the Magdalo patriots.
Nananakot lang si Esperon pero duwag din iyan. Manduduro lang katulad noong unano. Golly, ngayon pa na alam nating sumige siya at baka mag-isa siyang sasagupa. Iilan na lang silang natitirang mga “boyfriends” ni unano sa AFP with almost everybody now girding up their loins for the inevitable!
Huwag kang manakot, Esperon, lalo na ngayon ipinakilala na ng mga pilipino ang katapangan nilang muli. Ganito siguro ang feeling noong mga miyembro ng resistance sa Europe at Asia noong WWII. Baka mamamaya iyong mga sundalong akala mo kampi sa inyo ng unano ay itutok ang baril nila sa iyo! Hanggang leeg na ang pasensiya nila sa inyo. Kwidaw! Mga kuratong!
“Loi cited the case of Rep. Romeo Jalosjos who was convicted of rape.
“Since he has no bail, he is detained, there is conviction. Although re-elected as congressman, he cannot attend the session in Congress. Probably, that will also apply to the good Senator-elect Sonny Trillanes,” he said.”
——————————-
Eh ang BOBO naman pala nitong si Lt. Col. Feliciano Loi eh. Si Jolosjos ay CONVICTED na! Helloooowww! Si Trillanes ay ACCUSED pa lang. Actually FALSELY ACCUSED!
Ang sabihin niya, ang LAKI NG TAKOT nila na maimbistigahan dahil siguradong mga GUILTY. Lalo na si Esperon Pikon at Berdugo Palparan. Bantayan natin kung paano iiwas ang mga hilong talilong!
Pihadong PRANING (paranoid) na si Esperon Pikon. Magiging limitado na lang ang mga taong bibigyan niya ng order dahil hindi na siya sigurado kung yung kausap niya ay kakampi pa niya o hindi na. Kung nuong panahon ni Honasan ay may “WE BELONG”, ngayon sila Esperon at corrupt officials ay “THEY DON’T BELONG”.
Sabi ni Esperon- hindi daw puede magopisina si Trillanes sa cell niya. Mas lalo niyang higpitan at bawalan mas masaya ang laro na “Sige magtakutan tayo”.
Si Esperon kung umasta parang nasa Martial Law ah! Mas may supremacy ang civilian kesa sa iyo! Ang request ng pagdalo ni Trillanes sa mga sessions sa senado ay hindi katumbas ng freedom under bail. Ang sistema will be from jail to Senate, then back to jail. Ang pagpigil kay Trillanes na gampanan ang kanyang trabaho ay pagyurak sa iginawad ng mga mamamayang bumoto sa kanya.
Esperon, HUWAG KANG PIKON! TRABAHO LANG WALANG PERSONALAN!!!
Trillianes has more credibility than Assperon nowadays. Just like the TUtas who overwhelmingly lost in the last elections, Assperon will suffer the same failure. The more he shows disrespect to the elected senator, the more hated he becomes by the over 11 million voters who made Trillianes win. The best Assperon can do is to respect the civilian courts and allow Trillianes to serve as a public servant. If I were Assperon, he should redeem himself by listening to the people more than he does to the Unano!
Just like Luzviminda termed it, PRANING could be another appropriate word to describe the actuations of Esperon. Tatlong P na, Panic, Paranoid, Praning.
If I can read the minds of the opposition lawyers, they are now preparing to embark on legal battles to force the issue on Sen. Trillanes attendance to the Senate sessions. Kung pipilitin ni Esperon ang sinasabi niyang Article of War, he should have plenty of ammunitions to sustain the war concerning legalities because this matter is likely to reach the Supreme Court. And knowing the batting average of the administration on cases that reached the Supreme Court, butata na naman sila. We are confident for a landmark decision in favor of Sen. Trillanes on this case. We expect it to bring another devastating defeat for Gloria and her moribund administration. Hindi na sila natuto.
Iba naman kaso ni Jalosjos. Siya naboto dahil sa vote buying. Si Senator Trillanes ay ibinoto ng mga tao dahil pinatatawad na nila siya at gusto nila siyang magsilbi. Huwag ninyong paniwalaan si Loi. Sometimes, she says things she is not even sure of.
This reminds me of the time when she came to Japan soon after Erap was elected president. She was invited by some Japanese entrepreneurs interested especially in recruiting Filipino Japayukis to Japan. Golly, I felt like throwing gasoline at her and lightning it when she said that she would do her best to convince her husband to negotiate for the age of the Japayukis to be deployed to Japan to below 18 or something of this sort! I thought she should have been told that children below 20 working in places where people drink and smoke was prohibited in Japan.
Erap should tell his wife to shut up if she is just going to jeopardize any effort to set the good Senator Trillanes free so he can serve the people, and that is the most important and should be the ONLY CONSIDERATION AND LOGICAL REASON WHY SENATOR TRILLANES SHOULD BE SET FREE!!!
MORE THAN 11M FILIPINOS VOTED FOR SENATOR TRILLANES (NO VOTE BUYING HERE UNLIKE JALOSJOS, ET AL) AND THEY NEED HIM TO SERVE THEM FREELY AS REASON AND LOGIC MAY SERVE THOSE IN A POSITION TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE,not for the unano squatting at the palace by the murky river and her cohorts! Simple lang naman, hindi na kailangan ang marami pang mga kabulastugan!!! Nagmumukha tuloy bobo at inutil iyong mga nakaupo lalo na sa korte ng bansa.
Ooops, sorry, iba palang Loi ang sinasabi ni Luzviminda sa itaas! Naalala ko kasi ang kaso ni Dr. Ejercito noong First Lady pa siya. Kung sabagay, since then, she stopped saying things without probably consulting her husband as dutiful wives do. Kaya medyo nagulat ako doon sa sinabi ni Luz na hindi ko binasang mabuti kung sinong Loi ang tinutukoy niya. Mea culpa, but I will not say “lapse of jugment.” Just overlooked the rest of the story.
SENATOR TRILLANES said he will work towards the immeachment of Gloria Arroyo. WRONG! You do not impeach a bogus imposter. You prosecute Arroyo because she is a pretender – a criminal.The Arroyo problem is a JUSTICE problem, not a LEGISLATIVE problem. Criminal laywers should handle Arroyo, not SENATORS.
xanadu,
bakit paabutin pa sa korte suprema? maliwanag namang kung hindi maaaring magampanan ni senador trillanes ang kanyang tungkulin ay hindi na siya papayagan ng makati trial court na makalabas ng kulungan at manumpa bilang senador, di ba? simple lamang.
tama ang sabi mo – BUTATA sila (espurol, the cheat-of-staff)pagdating sa legalities na may kinalaman sa bagong function ni sonny bilang halal na senador hindi katulad ni espurol na SHOT CUT ang mga promosyon sa pagiging MULTI STARRED GENERAL dahil sabay sabay na wala namang napatunayan maliban sa PANDARAYANG ginawa upang manalo noong 2004 presidential election ang mukhang dagang ANAY sa malakanyang!
mawalang galang na sa inyong lahat, pakisingit lamang po:
ka enchong,
ilang beses kong sinubukang ipadala ang aking tugon sa iyong e-mail, subalit laging “rejected for policy reasons” ayon sa makulit na mailer demon. kung sakaling magkaroon ako ng pagkakataon ay magbubukas ako ng account alinman sa yahoo o hotmail upang maging daan ng ating ugnayan sa labas ng hardin ng ellenville. sa ngayon ay hindi ko pa magagawa dahil malayo sa city proper itong aking kinalalagyan at todo kayod kahit rest day (friday) sa sobrang higpit ng pangangailangan bunga ng pag-aaral ng aking bunso na nasa huling taon ng kanyang kurso kaya ang araw araw kong routine ay kuwarto-opisina-kuwarto at tanging libangan itong panggugulo sa bahay ni ellen.
yun bang 965-9834… ay landline o mobile number mo? bigatin ka pala diyan sa trabaho mo at nasisiguro kong bata ka pa kung ibabatay sa edad ng iyong mga supling maliban na lamang kung nagbilang ka muna ng mga bulaklak na dinapuan at liwaliwang pinagkalibangan sa loob ng mahabang panahon bago nagpasyang bumuo ng sariling pugad. hinahangad ko ang iyo pang ibayong tagumpay at nawa’y huwag mong kalilimutan ang lupang iyong tinutuntungan at lingunin ang landas na nilakaran lalo’t higit ang magkabilang panig ng daang tatahakin tungo sa katuparan ng iyong pagsisikhay.
maraming salamat sa iyong liham at sana’y dumating ang pagkakataon na tayong mga panauhin sa tahanan ni ellen ay magkita kita, magkaharap harap at magkadaupang palad.
kumusta sa iyong pamilya. mabuhay ka!
at sa lahat ng mga daddy, tatay, papa at mga dakilang ama sa bawat sulok ng bahay na ito, HAPPY FATHER’S DAY.
araw natin ito, mga kataling damdamin!
Kung sabagay, the more Ass and Tia dramatize Trillanes situation, the better it will be for him. let them prepare a nice scenario for their eventuell exit. The people will be willing enough to play their audience if not their executors.
To Ass And Tia: Pahirapan n’yo pa nang husto at nang mapadali na ang pinakahihintay na CLIMAX ng inyong buhay!!! Winarningan na kayo, babes!
elvie,
alam mo ba ang pinakamagandang dapat gawin ng ass-tia team?
‘yung payagan nilang umatend ng sesyon sa senado itong si senador sonny na laging NAKAPOSAS para lalong maramdaman ng tao ang pagnunupil sa bayani ng bagong panahon!
ass-ti, ‘yan, ha? binigyan na kayo ng pointer para hindi na kayo magpatakbo takbo sakaling HABULIN kayo ng taong bayan.
Dat’s right, Magno! Dapat gawin ito ng As-Ti team! Mas dramatic mass kakagatin ng mga tao! Mahihilig tayo sa Operetang Sampay Bakod ba ‘yon?
Ass-tia as in Astig? Maniwala kayo. Mga duwag naman iyan pagdating ng panahon. Ang tindi ng ginawa kay Senator Trillanes.
Ang dapat gawin ng SC diyan ay pawalan bisa na ang pagpapakulong sa kaniya dahil nagpasiya na ang mga taumbayan para sa kaniya.
Iyong mga palakad na mali ang sabi naman ni Senator Trillanes na itutuwid niya. Dapat lang na ipagawa sa kaniya. At sino si Assperon na pigilin siya?
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
P
Ass-tia as in Astig? Maniwala kayo. Mga duwag naman iyan pagdating ng panahon. Ang tindi ng ginawa kay Senator Trillanes.
Ang dapat gawin ng SC diyan ay pawalan bisa na ang pagpapakulong sa kaniya dahil nagpasiya na ang mga taumbayan para sa kaniya.
Iyong mga palakad na mali ang sabi naman ni Senator Trillanes na itutuwid niya. Dapat lang na ipagawa sa kaniya. At sino si Assperon na pigilin siya?
PATALSIKIN NA, NOW NA!
Rebolusyon yata ang gustung mangyari ng mga kuratong. Parang nanakot pa. Akala nila kasi tutulungan sila ng mga kano. Ngayon pang unpopular iyong isang kumag sa White House. Kanina lang narinig ko iyong isang US lawmaker na sinabing hahadlangan nila ang iba pang balak na palaguin ang guerra sa Iraq. Nabanggit nga iyong Pilipinas.
Akala din ba nila basta-basta papasok ang Australia na hindi naman sila makikinabang? Australyano pa?
E kung rebolusyon ang gusto nila, e di ibigay sa kanila ang gusto nila. Matira ang matibay!
Meanwhile, bukas pag inalis si Koko at ipinalit iyong binabae, e protesta na dahil hindi puedeng ipasok iyong binabae gawa nang alam naman ng lahat na talo siya at ang mga botong ilalagay sa kaniya ay dagdag lamang ng mga kuratong sa Mindanao. Ano ba iyan? Wala na bang matino sa Comelec?
Abolish Comelec is the best solution to the perennial election problem in the Philippines, at iyong mga pulis puede ba tanggalin na sa ilalim ng kuratong na AFP para naman maka-function nang mahusay ang pulis. BTW, dito sa Japan pala walang abogado na naninilbihan sa pulis. Conflict of interest iyan sa totoo lang.
OT:
Ka Magno,
Salamat! Lumiham uli ako sa iyo gamit ang yahoo. Makarating sana. Mobile # ko yung +965 98….
Enchong
Sabi ng mga kuratong sa Comelec, 300,000 daw ang boto sa Maguindanao, pero with proper bantay, bakit akala ba ng Comelec boboto iyong mga tao doon kay So Very Me Girl? Kahit kalahati ang makuhang boto doon ni So Very, hindi pa rin siya mananalo. Puede ba mag-concede na lang siya at baka magkaroon pa ng respeto ang mga pilipino sa kaniya. Kakahiya siya!
Para siyang isang ungas na kunyari naging anti-Gloria para lang maboto at noong una ay pumayag pang magpalagay sa GO para lang maboto pero at the last minute, playing safe ang loko at nag-independent kuno. Nakalinlang at nakalimutan ng mga pilipino ang galit sa kaniya.
Gosh, nakakasuka!
Comparing Senator Trillanes and Nonong Jalosjos?
The senator had been merely charged, while calling Jalosjos a rapist would be right because he had been convicted.
Jalosjos had a district, Trillanes has a nation to represent.
Jalosjos raped an underaged girl, Trillanes rose up to denounce those who intended to “rape” the AFP foot soldiers, and by extension, the people.
Wala na ba silang maisip na analogy?
How would this Loi take it if he gets compared to Nonong? Si Nonong, sinalaula yung bata. SI Loi at ang kanyang mga heneral, sinasalaula ang sambayanan. Sino ngayon ang mas santo sa kanila?
Esperon is trying to “save face”, he’s just being a braggart – he might make life difficult for Trillanes but he cannot stand in the way of an nationally elected senator to attend Senate sessions and he knows this.
He had 4 years to indict and try Trillanes but failed to do it so how can he succeed now?
He mustn’t forget that military authority and law is subservient to the nation’s constitutional authority and civilian laws. If he doesn’t understand this, then he must be stripped of the 4 stars illico!
Mas gusto pa nga yata ni Esperon eh yung napapahiya siya dahil sa mga palpak niyang asta. Nasopla na naman siya ng abugado ni Trillanes. Sinabi na ng abugado na ang parusa sa paglabag sa Articles of War Article 96 ( Conduct unbecoming an Officer) ay DISCHARGE from DUTY lang at hindi kulong. So ibig sabihin ay NILALABAG ni Esperon ang mga karapatan ni Trillanes na MAGLINGKOD SA BAYAN!
TAKOT NA TAKOT NA TALAGA SI ESPERON PIKON KAY TRILLANES, PERSONALAN NA!!!
Xanadu:
May pang-apat na P para i-describe si Esperon…putak ng putak, parang manok…hindi, manok talaga, as in CHICKEN!
Naduduwag na kasi siya kay Senator Trillanes…
You guys want a load of Trillanes-bashing? Read Mon Tulfo’s PDI Column, and see how news items, when quoted in halves, can change the story altogether.
On the AFP leadership throwing in the wrench on Senator Trillanes’ way: The Devil has been known to quote the Scriptures to suit his purpose.
Instead of finding ways and means to make life difficult for Senator Trillanes, Esperon should sharpen up the Armed Forces to fight the parallel armies that are operating in the country.
Also, instead of abducting and killing militants and human rights activists, the issue of parallel armies that are hugely armed, capable of bringing down the Philippine Republic or dismantling it should be the first worry of Esperon as chief of staff AFP, the Philippine Army and this Gloria Arroyo-led government because militant farmers, human rights activists, outspoken priests and other individuals cannot realistically bring the Philippine Republic down but its parallel armies definitely can!
Obviously, Esperon is much too scared of Sen Trillanes – he believes the young naval lieutenant could bring him down and rightly so.
The parallel armies against which Esperon should be training his ire, his guns and his firepower (instead of focusing on Trillanes) are the National People’s Army, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Moro National Liberation front (there are 4 muslim army groups operating as parallel armies today) and other ragtag bandit groups.
Anna,
Sinabi mo pa. These sundalong kanin of the fake administrators should actually focus on these bandit groups that they should not treat like enemies from outer space to be bombed and send immediately to Kingdom Come, but treat them like any other criminals menacing the citizenry. It is and should have been more a police work and duty like how the Japanese police for example fight and weaken the Yakuza.
They should adopt similar policies like those adopted during the time of Magsaysay when he tried to attract the Huks to put down their guns and join the rebuilding of their nation by peaceful process.
Problem is they cannot succeed the way the Magsaysay government failed because of the lack of will of the Philippine government to really push for a more working land reform program than the kind of land reform BS they have now especially by this bogus government.
Happy Fathers Day na rin sayo Mrivera!
Ngayon na June 19, sana ay maisa-puso’t isipan ng bawat anak ng bansa ang kanilang tungkulin gampanin.
Bilang personal na opinyon ko sayo Mrivera, “kahit na ituring mo na akong anak sa labas basta kilalanin mo naman na ang iyong mga ginawang anak sa labas ay mga anak mo rin”
militia o irregulars, tagapagtaguyod ito ng masisilungan.
Sabi nga ni Dimas, …”Alang alang sa ikaliliwanag ng bahay,hindi-hindi ako papayag na isang kalabit lang si Nanay”
“Sabi nga ni Dimas, …”Alang alang sa ikaliliwanag ng bahay,hindi-hindi ako papayag na isang kalabit lang si Nanay””
nelbar,
ano ‘yun? kudyapi? o taguang “pung”?