Senator Antonio Trillanes, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s fiercest critic, arrested
Senator Antonio Trillanes called President Duterte’s move a blow to democracy
A Philippine lawmaker fiercely critical of President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war was arrested on Tuesday on previously dismissed charges, a move condemned by watchdogs as persecution of the government’s opponents.
Senator Antonio Trillanes was taken into custody and then posted bail shortly after a court-issued warrant forced him from the Senate building, where he has holed up for weeks to avoid arrest.
Trillanes is the second senator critical of Duterte’s drug war to be detained. Leila de Lima has been behind bars since February 2017 on charges she says were concocted to silence her.
The order for Trillanes’ arrest stems from Duterte voiding earlier this month an amnesty granted eight years ago to the senator, an ex-navy officer, for his role in two coup attempts in the mid-2000s.
“They twisted the law so our democracy and institutions failed,” Trillanes told reporters. “This [case] has nothing to do with anything except for the vengeance of Duterte and his underlings.
“This is a debacle and a defeat of democracy.”
Duterte issued a decree earlier this month ordering Trillanes’ arrest on allegations he did not complete the requirements of filing an official application for amnesty and admitting guilt.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said it was time for Trillanes to stop grandstanding.