By Benjamin Pulta | Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) dismissed Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s motion to quash the inciting to sedition complaint filed against him.
In an order dated May 8, RTC Branch 45 Judge Remiebel Mondia cited “lack of merit” prompting it to dismiss the quashal plea filed by Trillanes.
“These arguments based on allegations that are purely evidentiary in nature, the truth of which can only be ascertained in a full-blown trial where the parties will be given equal opportunity to present proof that will support their respective claims,” Mondia said.
“It would be improper to quash the information solely on the ground that the alleged utterances of the accused were made during a privilege speech which is covered by his parliamentary immunity. (It) will totally disregard the other acts being imputed against the accused that are also included in the information,” she explained.
Aside from parliamentary immunity, Trillanes’ counsels claimed that when he mentioned the words “soldiers, machine gun and M60 in his utterances” the lawmaker was merely resorting to hyperbole.
The charges arose from statements made by Trillanes in public and through media, particularly a statement where the solon apparently said “So ito ngayon, kung nakikita ito ng mga sundalo, M60 machine gun ang gagamitin sayo. Marami-rami to. Mauubos magazine kungPHP40 million hinahanap mo, Mr. (President Rodrigo) Duterte (So now you see, if this is seen by soldiers, M60 machine gun will be used against you. The magazine will be used up if you are looking for PHP40 million, Mr. Duterte)”.
A part of the charges also said Trillanes enticed people to sign a petition to pressure President Duterte and make it appear to the public that he amassed ill-gotten wealth of PHP2 billion.
