Trillanes arrest order part of Duterte’s authoritarian playbook, critics say

MANILA, Philippines — For opposition coalition group Tindig Pilipinas, the Duterte administration has reached into his authoritarian playbook after a Makati court issued an arrest warrant against Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, one of President Rodrigo Duterte's fiercest critics.

“Like Sen. De Lima, Sen. Antonio Trillanes dared to criticize this president and his corrupt, incompetent and murderous regime,” Tindig Pilipinas said in a statement.

“And so, the regime has decided to reach into his authoritarian playbook and on the flimsiest of reasons, in ways that pervert the justice system, against all logic has managed to get another arrest warrant,” it added.

The cause-oriented group made the statement after the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 granted the Department of Justice’s motion for an arrest warrant and hold departure order against the embattled senator.

READ: Makati court orders Trillanes' arrest for rebellion case

“Congratulations Mr Duterte, hindi na lamang ang mga mahihirap ang nakakaranas ng kawalan ng hustista, pati na rin ang mga senador. Subali't magkaiba pa rin di ba? Para sa mga Senador—kulong dahil kumontra. Para sa mahirap—kamatayan dahil nanlaban,” the group said.

“But know this, you can no longer change the narrative. No amount of fear mongering, fake news and suppression of dissent can’t fill ur pepople's stomachs nor resurrect their murdered dead. Nahahalata na po ng taumbayan na wala silang maasahan sa gobyernong ito kundi bukbok, bugok, tepok,” it added.

Human Rights Watch Asia Division researcher Carlos Conder also issued a statement with tha same tone as Tindig Pilipinas, saying that the arrest of Trillanes is part of the persecution of critics of Duterte who oppose his “murderous drug war.”

Conde said the persecution began when Sen. Leila De Lima was arrested based on trumped-up charges.

He said Trillanes has also “proven to be the biggest thorn in the side of Duterte” for he accused several people in the administration including the president’s son, Paolo Duterte, of corruption. Trillanes also supported the International Criminal Court’s preliminary examination of complaints against the president.

“Trillanes' arrest today sends a chilling effect among other critics of the Duterte administration,” Conde said.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, Liberal Party president, also said that while they respect the court's decision, they disagree with the order. 

"It is as clear as day that the revocation of grant of amnesty is illegal and an abuse of presidential powers and must be vigorously opposed," Pangilinan said.

"All the pieces of evidence.submitted to the Court both documentary and testimonial prove a valid application and amnesty proclamation. Maliwanag na panggigipit ito ng administrasyon sa isang kritiko nito," he added.

'Dictatorship is on'

Trillanes’ party-list, Magdalo, also said democracy has died after the arrest of Trillanes.

Magdalo lamented how the court system is being used as an instrument to persecute the political rivals of Duterte.

“Sa paglabas ng warrant of arrest laban kay Senator Trillanes, natanggal na ang pagkukunwari ng administrasyong Duterte na tayo ay nasa demokrasya pa. Tayo po ay na sa isa ng diktadurya ngayon (With the issuance of the warrant of arrest against Senator Trillanes, this administration’s pretense that we are in the state of democracy is gone. We are in the state of dictatorship now),” Magdalo said in a statement. 

“The issuance of warrant to arrest Senator Trillanes based on Proclamation No. 572 is an assault to the whole Philippine justice system,” it added.

Magdalo party-list said that despite this, the party would abide by the legal orders.

“We will continue to have faith on our institutions and legal processes,” Magdalo said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Grace Poe said she is confident Trillanes could defend his case before the court.

She also raised concern about trust in government.

"So kung kukwestiyunin 'yung kanya, lahat 'yun malalagay sa peligro at mawawalan ng bisa ang amnestiya na ibibigay ng gobyerno sa mga darating na panahon; papaano magkakaroon ng tiwala? Kaya ako, dasal ko naman na ang mahihiling natin dito ay ang pagiging patas ng Korte na pakinggan talaga," Poe said.

Arrest order sidelines important issues

Tindig Pilipinas also slammed Duterte for claiming there is an evil plot against him and arresting Trillanes amid the increase in prices of goods, failure to defend country’s borders, about to be tried in the ICC for crimes against humanity, and lowering of trust and approval ratings.

The group and Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV questioned the timeliness of the arrest order.

“Kahirapan at taas-presyo ang kalaban, hindi ang oposisyon,” Aquino said.

“Taumbayan ang nakakalimutan habang pinipilit na patahimikin si Sen. Trillanes at iba pang kritiko ng gobyerno. Habang nag-aaway away, ang mga pangunahing isyu ng taumbayan ang nababalewala’t naiiwan,” he added.

Aquino called on the government to stop its threats and intimidation of critics.

Trillanes voluntarily surrendered to the Makati RTC Branch 150 and posted bail worth P200,000 for his rebellion case that was dismissed in 2011 on Tuesday afternoon. He returned to the Senate afterward.