Trillanes in Davao to face Paolo Duterte's libel case
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has set foot in the bailiwick of President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday to face a libel suit filed by the president’s son, former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte.
The Davao Regional Trial Court Branch 54 has set the senator’s arraignment for the case on Tuesday morning. News5 reported that Trillanes, a vocal critic of the president, has arrived at the court at 9:00 a.m.
LOOK | Dumating na sa Davao RTC Branch 54 si Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV para harapin ang libel case na isinampa ni dating Vice Mayor Pulong Duterte at Atty. Mans Carpio.
— News5 AKSYON (@News5AKSYON) January 15, 2019
????: Al Ryan Alejandre pic.twitter.com/Wxk8NlyKnA
In December, Presiding Judge Melinda Alconcel-Dayanghirang issued a one-page warrant of arrest against the senator for the libel case filed by Duterte. The bond was fixed at P24,000 for each count of libel charged against the senator.
Paolo accused Trillanes of defaming him and his family in a radio interview in Cebu.
In the interview cited in the complaint, the senator accused Duterte of corruption and extortion involving Uber and other companies regulated by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, the Road Board and the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Trillanes earlier said that the libel suit is meant to harass him.
In a press briefing in September, the senator said: “It’s very, very obvious that they are finding ways to shake me down, to harass me, but we will face it.”
The Davao libel case is only one of the cases the senator is facing.
Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 is due to resume trial on the revived rebellion case against the senator over his involvement in the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege.
The rebellion case was reopened following Duterte’s declaration that the amnesty granted to the senator was void from the beginning.
Trilanes is also facing a grave threat case filed by Labor Undersecretary Jing Paras before a Pasay court and an inciting to sedition complaint before the Pasay prosecutor’s office. — Kristine Joy Patag with report from News5
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