President Aquino grants amnesty to Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and all the other soldiers charged for standing up to Gloria Arroyo.
Concurrence of both houses of Congress is expected to follow in the coming days. Some 160 members of the House of Representatives and 17 senators have earlier signed separate resolutions urging the President to grant amnesty to the rebel soldiers. They are expected to concur with the proclamation.
The proclamation also approves the re-integration of the service of enlisted men. Officers are not covered by the re-integration.
Proclamation No. 50:
MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
PROCLAMATION NO. 50
GRANTING AMNESTY TO ACTIVE AND FORMER PERSONNEL OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THEIR SUPPORTERS WHO MAY HAVE COMMITTED ACTS OR OMISSIONS PUNISHABLE UNDER THE REVISED PENAL CODE, THE ARTICLES OF WAR OR OTHER SPECIAL LAWS COMMITTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE OAKWOOD MUTINY, THE MARINES STAND-OFF AND THE MANILA PEN INCIDENT AND RELATED INCIDENTS
WHEREAS, it is recognized that certain active and former personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and their supporters have or may have committed acts or omissions which may be punishable under the Revised Penal Code, the Articles of War and other laws in connection with July 27, 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, the February 2006 Marines Stand-Off and the November 29, 2007 Manila Pen Incident and related incidents;
WHEREAS, there is a clamor from certain sectors of society urging the President to extend amnesty to said AFP personnel;
WHEREAS, Section 19, Article VII of the Constitution expressly vests the power to grant amnesty upon the President;
WHEREAS, in order to promote an atmosphere conducive to the attainment of a just, comprehensive and enduring peace and in line with the Government’s peace and reconciliation initiatives, there is a need to declare amnesty in favor of the said active and former personnel of the AFP and their supporters;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by Section 19, Article VII of the Philippine Constitution, do hereby DECLARE and PROCLAIM:
SECTION 1. Grant of Amnesty. – Amnesty is hereby granted to all active and former personnel of the AFP as well as their supporters who shall apply therefor and who have or may have committed acts or omissions punishable under the Revised Penal Code, the Articles of War or other special laws in connection with, in relation or incident to the July 27, 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, the February 2006 Marines Stand-Off and/or the November 29, 2007 Manila Pen Incident and related incidents; Provided that amnesty shall not cover crimes against chastity and other crimes committed for personal ends.
SECTION 2. Where to Apply. – The concerned AFP personnel and their supporters may apply for amnesty under this Proclamation with the Department of National Defense (DND). The DND is hereby tasked with the functions and duties of receiving and processing applications for amnesty under this proclamation and determining whether the applicants are covered by amnesty under this Proclamation. The final decisions or determination of the DND shall be appealable to the Office of the President.
SECTION 3. Period of Application. – Applications for the grant of amnesty under this Proclamation shall be filed under oath with the DND within a period of ninety (90) days following the date of the publication of this Proclamation in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. The DND shall forthwith act on the same with dispatch.
SECTION 4. Effects. –
(a) Amnesty under this proclamation shall extinguish any criminal liability for acts committed in relation to, in connection with or incident to the July 27, 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, the February 2006 Marines Stand-Off and the November 29, 2007 Manila Pen Incident without prejudice to the grantee’s civil liability for injuries or damages caused to private persons.
(b) The grant of amnesty shall also effect the restoration of civil and political rights or entitlement that may have been suspended, lost or adversely affected by virtue of ant executive action and/or administrative criminal action or proceedings lodged against the grantee in connection with the subject incidents, including criminal conviction or any form, if any.
(c) All enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines whose applications for amnesty would be approved shall be entitled to reintegration or reinstatement, subject to existing laws and regulations. Officers of the AFP on the other hand shall not be entitled to reintegration or reinstatement into the service.
(d) The amnesty shall reinstate the right of AFP personnel to retirement and separation benefits, if so qualified under existing laws and regulations at the same time of the commission of the acts for which the amnesty is extended.
SECTION 5. Effectivity. – This Proclamation shall take effect immediately upon the signing thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.
DONE in the City of Manila, 11th day of October in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Ten.
(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
By the President:
(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary
Ah! That’s good… Way to go! After all, he’s already “granted amnesty” to the hostage rescue bunglers/operators who were dowright incompetent and willfully negligent so nothing wrong at all with granting amnesty to these military folks whose only real “mistake” was to fight evil Gloria!
Great news! Hope Congress will not be “pasaway” and create issues about this to get media mileage.
This group of valiant men would finally be able to go about what they best!
Cheers to Ye’Ol Chaps!
Ellen,
Truth be told! You deserve the sincerest thanks for making this happen. Without your consistent support, the plight of these miltiary folks might not have hit the right nerve in Malacanang.
Those soldiers may owe a lot to a great number of people in media who have supported them all throughout but I sincerely honestly believe that they owe you the most!
Bravo Ellen!!!!
Let’s pray that the process would be completed.
A major step has been made, we are thankful for that.
Let’s pray that they will finally be granted justice.
I saw it coming. It’s under a different administration that Trillanes and the rest would be freed. I think even if Erap or Villar got elected…they would do the same. But thanks to Noynoy for making a quick move. Next would be Ping Lacson how Noynoy would deal with him.
Trillanes now can function as a Senator. Congrats and good luck sir !
Lacson is a different case, he is wanted for murder while Trillanes et. al. is just mutiny and a political one.
Good News, although timing is suspect. Amnesty was made to cover up shameless clearing of P.Noy’s buddy Rico Puno from IIRC report.
Nabasa ko sa Inquirer parang hindi kasali ang Manila Peninsula incident sa amnesty. 2003 Oakwood at 2006 non-event lang.
Ayos! Kasali pala ang Manila Peninsula incident sa amnesty.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/10/12/10/aquino-grants-amnesty-trillanes-mutineers
If you scratch my back…
You guys are sure different to please…ang tataas ng mga “standards” nyo! Why this “hard on” for Rico Puno, you find your own singer-namesake fbb, inggit lang kayo you don’t have friendships as strong as that…you should try it sometime, find lasting, meaningful, and fight to death friendships in your lifetime, its a truely Filipino trait… 🙂
…what I find perplexing is that the “jueteng” issue touted by Cruz earlier got so much attention when Puno was linked (Versoza too) but no one bothered about his expose of the “shadow cabinet” of Norberto Gonzales and others.
hmmmmmmm…..I tell you guys, take the information you get but analyze first, think, think, think, you never know if someone was just feeding these bits and pieces of (dis)information…right Henry? counterintelligence?
any unsuspecting fool of a president could have been brought to the ground by the massive media shitstorm the quirino hostage fiasco generated, added to the brew was Cruz’s exposes, hell, even in the campaign there was this psychiatric report – shame on these people! everything including the kitchen sink was thrown already against this administration its making the “ampatuan” picnic (not a fiasco) appear as a none issue already…
…dear lord, look at the impact on trust ratings? then again, is that the best the media can do? is that the best all those millions of pesos spent on this massive shitstorm directed on one particular person can do? bring it on!
if some people in the media think they can hoodwink the people and manipulating public opinion to the point of direct action – they’re overestimating their powers, the Philippine media has lost its credibility, take that to SWS and we’ll probably see some really interesting figures…
…its become too much of a business already…too bad…
What a good timing to cover-up the “amnesty” given to Usec. Puno !!!
I would say magaling yung Communication group ni P-Noy.
True, Ellen was an effective catalyst here. Now the only remaining hope that could give the Filipinos the true “daang matuwid” is free. GO, GO my senator and save your country from a jellyfish presidency. TRILLANES 2016!
I disagree with the sentiment here that Trillanes should be pardoned. Adventurism, ie, involvement in politics of military figures sets a bad example. Where in the Constitution does it say that the Armed Forces is the 4th branch of the government? I agree with the political view (Gloria is evil.) but it doesn’t mean that what Trillanes and others did are OK…
Maybe they would have my support had they bombed a full Congress. Pero palaging empty siguro yung Kongreso no?
Tama yan bigyan ng amnesty lahat ng sundalo para sa ganun sila rin ang manggugulo sa administrasyon noynoy dala ng kahirapan, pangakong naloko, atbp.
Gud job!
I don’t like Noynoy but enough with the military interventions and intermissions numbers, and People Powers.. Anong akala ninyo sa Pilipinas, isang banana soap opera?
From Rep. Roilo Golez:
For the sake of peace and reconciliation, I support the Amnesty Proclamation of the President.
Those charge for the Oakwood mutiny have suffered enough these past years, lost their freedom, wrecked their military career and went through losts of anguish and anxiety.
Same for those implicated in the Marine HQ stand-off.
I was the natioal security adviser during the 2003 Oakwood incident and was the designated crisis manager when the crisis unfolded. Although we were in opposite camps, I viewed with concern how the event put at risk the lives and limbs of those young officers and was saddened by how it sidetracked what would have been promising military careers.
It is my prayer that they be given second chance in whatever career they would emabark on should the amnesty come to fruition with concurrence of Congress.
I expect,however, a lively, heated debate with members of the House who will on principle oppose the amnesty.
“Tama yan bigyan ng amnesty lahat ng sundalo para sa ganun sila rin ang manggugulo sa administrasyon noynoy dala ng kahirapan, pangakong naloko, atbp.
Gud job!” Mr. President?
No Thank u to ‘Abnoy’? 😛
The people were ahead of the government by three years. They pardoned Trillanes in 2007.
This government act (assuming concurred in by Congress) only reiterates what the people said by the ballot, which the courts obstinately refused to see.
Statement of Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan:
“The amnesty proclamation reverses the injustice done to them for committing a political act. It is meant to restore harmony and unity by way of ‘forgetting’ these offenses. We cannot hope to solve the serious problems of our nation if we are unable to create a politically stable society.
“This amnesty proclamation will help create the atmosphere needed to begin anew and build the economy and ensure progress and development.”
Kudos to all the officers and men involved in the “July 27, 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, the February 2006 Marines Stand-Off and the November 29, 2007 Manila Pen Incident and related incidents”!!!
The team works, Navy! Rise above the rest Air Force! Fear naught Army! “Per Mare, Per Terram” you dare Marines!
As the Duke of Wellington said, “Fortune Favors the Brave”!
Magpasalamat naman kayo kay ‘Abnoy’ oi. . . Presidential proclamation kaya ito. He is risking the ire of the many others who hate Trillanes, et al. If u are quick to take him to task for the shortcoming of his subalterns, why are u dragging your feet now to give credit where credit is due?
No? Nada? Nyet? lol 😛
Hi Henry!
Must say that this is one good deed by your pal.
He scored 2 big points in my book (1) he got to bury public angst about the Aug 23 debacle 😉 (2) he go to slap Gloria and Esperon big time with the flick of his lil fingers 😀
As you might say, “not bad” for his first 100 days 😉
Now, if Pres Aquino can only perform 2 good deads, i.e., correct the naknampuchang evil deeds left by Gloria, for every 100 days he is in office, I’ll be goddamn proud of him and his hairline 😛
(By the way, I must be real thick but what is with this “Abnoy” thing, keep reading it but not sure if it’s his nickname or what, i.e., seriously, am lost in translation here.)
AnnaDeBrux – October 12, 2010 10:31 am
Ah! That’s good… Way to go! After all, he’s already “granted amnesty” to the hostage rescue bunglers/operators who were dowright incompetent and willfully negligent so nothing wrong at all with granting amnesty to these military folks whose only real “mistake” was to fight evil Gloria!
OMG, Anna…exactly what I immediately thought when I opened my eyes and saw Emil’s email re this amnesty!
Amen to your prayer #5, Ellen.
TonGuE-tWisTeD – October 12, 2010 12:21 pm
If you scratch my back…
hahaha! Lahat natutunan, but this one I believe para sa Inangbayan.
Ay Chi, not at all surprised! I dare say we are kambal 🙂 thinkers on tons of issues affecting poor old Pinas…
saxnviolins – October 12, 2010 6:13 pm
The people were ahead of the government by three years. They pardoned Trillanes in 2007.
This government act (assuming concurred in by Congress) only reiterates what the people said by the ballot, which the courts obstinately refused to see.
Sakto!
Anna…. that’s why I miss you a lot when you’re absent, 🙂
What about the group of Col. Querubin, Gen. Miranda, Capt. Dante Langkit, and fellow Officers and Gentlemen/women?
Chi, di ba they were involved during the time of the “Marines’ standoff” so I think they are included in the amnesty.
Looks like Pres Aquino’s proclamation is a blanket amnesty…
Sana nga, Anna.
I’m hoping all included bar none…”…THE MARINES STAND-OFF AND THE MANILA PEN INCIDENT AND RELATED INCIDENTS”
Kasi, I’d like to congratulate all of them pati beloveds. 🙂
🙂 hah, Chi… let’s uncork a bottle of champagne when it’s all over …
Kaya pinakawalan nila ang mga marines at binigyan ng amnesty kasi meron tatlong (3) maria sa malakanyang at type nila itong mga marines na ito. Sabi ni tj guingona (Mr. Bean) wala ng kaso ang mga marines na ito ay makakabalik na sa duty nila… siguro isa rin sa mga dual sim itong mamang ito.
Gud job ulit kasi mangyayari ulit…..
Yahooo…
Only the EMs can go back to duty not the officers.
Inuunti-unti na pinababalik sa duties ang mga yan pero lahat yan bigyan ng amnesty… Pati si Gloria M. Arroyo mapapa-walang bisa yan sa mga kaso niya.
Isa pa spokeperson lang naman si pareng noynoy. Kami ang boss mo noy… sige pakawalan mo lahat ng mga pasaway na sundalo hikhikhik
Jake,
And even then, the EMs’ application for amnesty seems to be subject to approval.
That said, the amnesty for all despite the caveat, i.e., subject to approval, is one good step.
I’d like to think that those officers who will be finally ‘amnestied’ could go back to active duty (after all AFP has, I think, issued a statement saying they have nothing against re-integrating these officers to active service). They were young, solid, good officers — pushed by noble idealistic and patriotic idealism and not by greed and lust for power unlike Gloria’s bunch of crappy generals.
But to be perfectly honest, I’m opposed to “political activism” by military in general but heck, past circumstances leading to the military interventionist events under Gloria warranted it. Gloria started it most ignonimously with her coup d’état in 2001; she and Angie Reyes were culpable yet they were never incarcerated.
Ngeeek… meant, “They were young, solid, good officers — pushed by noble, patriotic idealism”
Addendum: If only Gringo Honasan hadn’t been in the picture, would have been better.
@AnnaDeBrux
Abnoy and Penoy are duck eggs, but Abnoy emits a rotten smell.
Btw I find it strange that you are OK with Trillanes breaking the Constitution by engaging in partisan politics. You are selective in your application of the law.
That is what is wrong with us Filipinos. We only have an ad hoc constitution and ad hoc laws.
Absolutely NO to “political activism”, but Gloria deserved it. I make it an exception to my stand….
Why was Trillanes granted presidential amnesty when he was not yet convicted?
Yeah. Gloria is evil. But our hatred of one politician should not cloud are judgment, and lead us to breaking our own laws.
If the pandak was not herself a violator of the laws and super corrupt, these men would not have done what they did. Pandak prostituted the country and only these men defended its citizens, even not minding what would become of them. People like the pandak would call this “adventurism” but us on the other side call it, “pagmamalasakit sa bayan”.
Kung yung mga heneral ni pandak eh hindi nagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan to the extent of not giving the right gadgets to our men in uniform (butas na boots at hindi pumuputok na baril to name a few) hindi naman nagkaroon ng Oakwood mutiny. Kung hindi nandaya sa elections si pandak sa tulong ng kanyang mga henerales na katulad ni asspweron, hindi naman nagkakaroon ng stand-off.
Kaya tama na yang usapin ukol sa constitution. Bakit, si pandakba eh sumunod sa constitution natin? Wala siyang ginawa kundi sirain ang ating mga institutions.
Kaya, tama lang na bigyan ng amnesty ang mga sundalong ito. Kung may pagkakamali sila, yun ay ang mahalin ang ating bansa!
Sus, pumapapel pa yung mga may hawak ng kaso ni Trillianes. Gusto daw nilang tapusin ang hustisya. Pwede ba, nung panahon ni pandak, bakit wala silang ginawa kundi upuan ang kaso niya. Ngayon na may action si Pnoy, nagmamadaling tapusin ang kaso. Tama na ang drama. Wala kayong ginawa kundi sumunod kay bansot. Your time is up!
Let these men start with a new life other than defending their country against leaders like the bansot and her loyal generals like asspweron. For all we know, the civilian life may suit them better.
We spite the Constitution to show our pity for our nation? That is something new to me. If that’s the case, what do we need from our laws. Let’s just abolish Congress and the Judiciary and replace them with kangaroo courts where the emotion serves as the chief judge. Maybe that makes things easier and cheaper.
Ignorance of the Consitution and our laws is a reason why Filipinos don’t have an incentive to vote wisely. If they made a mistake in their choice of elected officials, they can rely on unprincipled politicians and adventurous military men and take their emotions to the streets.
People voted Aquino because they have a hatred of Gloria Arroyo. Look at where emotion-based voting brought us.
Trillanes et al were Shanghaied with a fake rebellion charge to render it non-bailable. The proper charge should have been sedition, which carries the penalty of prision mayor.
Since it was at the attempted stage, and not consummated, the sentence would be reduced by two degrees, bringing the penalty down to arresto mayor, which carries a penalty of one month and one day, to six months.
Trillanes has been in the can for seven years. Because of the injustice, and prosecutorial misconduct, the judge should have released him immediately.
Amnesty is only doing what the judiciary should have done.
This does not justify extra-Constitutional moves. But the clemency is justified by the illegal charges motivated by ignoble motives.
So score one for the President here, in fulfillment of his duty to do justice towards all men (Huwag nang magalit ang mga feminista, because the term “man” embraces woman).
@saxnviolins,
Great you recognize Trillanes’ guilt. But I am curious why the amnesty before the verdict? It just doesn’t seem logical.
You forgot my earlier post.
Trillanes was already pardoned by the people through the ballot. The government (executive and Congress) are three years behind the people in their magnanimity. They are belatedly bowing to the sovereign will.
Also, seems we are ok with extra-Unconstitutional moves because something illegal was done. There is something wrong with the picture. Bizaare
@saxnviolins,
You seem to know the legal details. But I am surprised there is such a thing as people’s pardon. I thought it is the President’s prerogative (and maybe the congress, I don’t know). Are you implying a trial by the mob here?
When Gloria’s Congress refused to grant amnesty, and the Supreme Court threw out Trillanes’ habeas petition, they were being more Catholic than the Pope.
The mere representatives cannot countermand the sovereign will. At least Noy and his allies in the legislature seem to be cognizant of this.
# 59
The ballot is the pardon. Electing somebody to represent you is not consistent with punishing the same individual.
The power of the President to pardon comes from the power of a King in a monarchy to pardon. In a monarchy, the King is the sovereign. But in a republic, the people are the sovereigns. So an action that indicates approval (electing representative) implies pardon of an individual’s action that is punishable.
Time to log out. For now.
I beg your pardon? But what provision in the Constitution did Sen Trillanes break exactly, NFA rice?
Just to put the record straight, I am not (and this is known at Ellenville) a Trillanes fan, however, your ruthless attack on him through me, eg., “breaking the Constitution” needs sorting out — I believe that he broke Gloria’s Constitution alright if he broke anything at all. Gloria was not a duly elected president of the Republic if you recall the thievery she and her hooligan friends committed. Gloria may have escaped imprisonment through sheer political power play but she remains nonetheless one of the most viscious law breakers this country has ever known.
Now, you seem to imply that it was wrong of these officers and men to have rebelled against Gloria and her bunch of cowardly generals, and that, by extension, she should be let off the hook while those who had the moral courage to say that she was wrong should be punished.
There seems to be a total dichotomy in the way you view what should be right [and what is wrong!]
@saxnviolins,
Sovereign will.. Do you mean verdict via a national referendum? That doesn’t make sense.
This process better:
1. Trillanes tried in a court of law.
2. Guilty verdict.
3. The president gives amnesty. A presidential prerogative.
@AnnaDeBrux,
Sorry if I misread your previous post.
But to quote the last sentence of Provision XVI, Section5.3 of the Corazon Aquino 1987 Constitution,
“No member of the military shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any partisan political activity, except to vote.”
It is quite clear that expressed opposition to the sitting President is engaging in partisan politics.
Note that the Constitution does not say they can engage in Partisan politics if the sitting President is Gloria Arroyo.
May I request people to read our 1987 Constitution and spread the Good News?
Here is a link: http://www.lawphil.net/consti/cons1987.html
Right on! You singled out Trillanes in your onslaught and I still am interested to know so what partisan political activity did he exactly perform during the Oakwood “mutiny”?
If I recall, the group of then LT Trillanes was out to denounce the excecrable corruption and partisan political activity among others that they (the military) were being pressured to perform by politicians, which if we are to believe you, is a Constitutional no no.
So, I throw your remark back at you, i.e., “Note that the Constitution does not say they can engage in Partisan politics if the sitting President is Gloria Arroyo.” — there is nothing in the Constitution that says that they couldn’t engage in an action aimed at protecting the Constitution and the people…
AnnaDeBrux,
Trillanes and others urged the then-President Gloria Arroyo to resign.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7396563.stm
If that is not partisan politics, I don’t know what it is. Yes we are talking about Trillanes because the topic is about him. And yeah the others you accused should be investigated too.
“Pardon” and “amnesty” are different but are both part of the clemency powers of the President. Pardon, as what should have been written in the preceding process, is given to an accused after having been found guilty, e.g., Erap.
Amnesty is now being applied to AT4 et al as their respective fates have not been arrived yet. Concurrence of Congress (both Senate and HOR) by legislation (like tax amnesty) will be needed to effect such process. So, first step has been given.
[Incidentally, I saw on TV last night how Edcel Lagman was almost furious about the “rush” to give the amnesty. He said to reporters that just because they (the administration congressmen) have the numbers they can ram the amnesty without scrutiny! Hahaha, a bitter taste of their own medicine!]
There are other points of distinction but I will leave that to lawyers. Btw, I concur fully with SNV’s above-written position on the matter.
—–
Anna,
“Abnoy” is short for “abnormal.”
Thanks, Baycas.
And I agree with you entirely — pardon and amnesty are different. (Incidentally, I availed of presidential amnesty in France after Pres Mitterand’s election. I had committed tons of traffic violations ranging from ramming my car against against another car because driver stole my parking space, etc., etc., etc.; court ‘litigations’ had not begun, i.e., “guilty” hadn’t been pronounced yet 😀 but Mitterand’s blanket amnesty covered my “misdemeanours” — hehehe!)
Ooops, ranging from…. to overtaking a police car who had not driven even when traffic light had gone gree and who looked to me as if the police driver had gone to sleep,… etc., etc., 😀
baycas2,
Pardon is more agreeable as Trillanes broke a law. But my position is merely academic. I am just one concerned citizen longing to have a functional state. We have laws but everyone ignores them. We cannot entirely blame the dysfunction on the Gloria administration. The problem goes back to, at the latest, 1987. No laws, no country to speak of.
Has he been convicted and pronounced guilty, NFA rice?
(Funny that I am now finding myself in the position of “defending” Trillanes because I don’t agree with NFA’s view of what is and what is not morally right course of action…)
Again, you view Gloria Macapagal as a legitimate president — but I do not and many here will not to this day call her “president”…
One last thing: if you re-read my post, I stated that in general I’m against political activism by the military so I half concur with you… in the absolute, I agree that these officers and men should be rightly prosecuted if, a caveat if you please, all the others who committed the most atrocious violation of the Constitution in recent years namely, Gloria, Reyes, Davide and a raft of others are first prosecuted, convincted, sentenced to imprisonment.
all the others who committed the most atrocious violation of the Constitution in recent years namely, Gloria, Reyes, Davide and a raft of others are first prosecuted, convincted, sentenced to imprisonment first.
@AnnaDeBrux,
The Oakwood mutiny and his other attempt speaks of his guilt. But with the presidential amnesty, he might not be convicted or exonerated at all.
Let’s agree to disagree about the legitimacy of Gloria’s presidency.
This is my final post for the night. I did not notice that its almost midnight. Good night!
Anna,
Hahaha. Take care.
—–
NFA rice,
A legitimate administration may view differently the conduct penalized by its predecessor…an illegitimate one at that!
Amnesty expunges the criminality of the acts (contrasting it to a pardon where the penalty is erased without removing the guilt)…and I understood your position and fear on this. However, as SNV has pointed out, there was already injustice done to AT4 et al when fake charges were leveled against them.
In a court of public opinion, Senator AT4 was already exonerated by millions of Filipinos who voted for him even before found guilty. I would think those millions also absolved the rest of AT4’s “rogue” companions.
“Trillanes has been in the can for seven years. Because of the injustice, and prosecutorial misconduct, the judge should have released him immediately.” -sax
I agree sax, sobra na nga yung inilagi nila Trillanes sa kulungan sa dapat na sentensiya niya. So kung dapat ay aresto mayor na six months ang maximum penalty, eh the court is illegally detaining them. Ngayong si PeNoy na ang nakaupo eh dapat lang na ibigay na ang kalayaan sa mga magigiting na sundalong ito na lumaban sa corrupt na AFP ni Gloria. Susunod na hakbang ay linisin ang bulok na sistema dyan sa AFP.
“Trillanes has been in the can for seven years. Because of the injustice, and prosecutorial misconduct, the judge should have released him immediately.” -sax
I agree sax, sobra na nga yung inilagi nila Trillanes sa kulungan sa dapat na sentensiya niya. So kung dapat ay aresto mayor na six months ang maximum penalty, eh the court is illegally detaining them. Ngayong si PeNoy na ang nakaupo eh dapat lang na ibigay na ang kalayaan sa mga magigiting na sundalong ito na lumaban sa corrupt na AFP ni Gloria. Susunod na hakbang ay linisin ang bulok na sistema dyan sa AFP.
——————–
luz,
i was able to talk to one of the lawyers a lot earlier, it seems that Gloria already got hold of the judge concerned, we really believed that going through this route was pointless already…much, much, earlier….
…thats why we’ve been banging on doors with everything, last thing i heard was a manifesto of some sorts to persuade the president to use his powers to free these officers…it took him quite a while, but nevertheless he delivered.
Thank you President Noynoy Aquino for winning this fight for us!!! Mabuhay ka!!!
as for Gloria and her ilk, belat! maghintay ka lang sa pagbalik ni Trillanes sa senado! 🙂
Oo nga naman, pasalamat tayo kay Noynoy sa paglaya ng Magdalo at Tanay Boys.
Statement of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV:
I would like to express my profound gratitude to President Noynoy Aquino for yesterday’s amnesty proclamation. This act of magnanimity is also clear indication of his sincere desire to attain unity and peace for our country.
I thank, as well, all those who moved and prayed for this amnesty to happen.
To all of you, I am forever indebted.
Yeah, Trillanes, do a good job in the Senate and remember your UTANG NA LOOB to him whenever it comes to a senate vote or whatever.
Observer, do not underestimate Trillianes. If he is how you picture him, hindi na sana siya nagtagal sa kulungan ng 7 taon. For those who know him, he has his own stand on almost anything. Ibang klase si Trillianes.
I think Trillanes and his group supported Manny Villar last election. Noynoy did right by granting them amnesty despite their non-political support. That’s one plus point for you, Pres. Noynoy.
2b1ask1, dyan nga nagbago ang tingin ko kay Pnoy. Hindi siya vindictive. Kahit papaano, he is trying his best to reach out. Kaya naman para din sa ating lahat, tignan natin kung papaano natin siya matutulungan. He may not had been a performing Tongressman nor a senatong but maybe late “bloomer” siya and he can be a better president. As I said again and again, let us give more time for him to perform. Nakikita ko naman na kahit maraming balakid, he is trying his best to somehow do his job.
President Noynoy is indeed not vindictive. If Villar was elected President, this guy would get back at his enemies. I personally know Noynoy during his Ateneo days. He used to hang around with a common friend, the Chuang, of Mariano Cuenco St., near Biaknabato and Banawe, QC. Kaya mukhang may diperensiya siya pati paglakad ay dahil sa pag-ambush as kanya noon ng mga rebeldeng sundalo.