PNP set to file raps vs Trillanes

Metro police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco announced yesterday that the Philippine National Police (PNP) will file a case against Navy Lt. (sg) Antonio Trillanes IV even as he cited Anastacia Santarin, a member of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), for her courage after she surfaced to volunteer her testimony against the Magdalo leader.

"With Santarin’s revelation, she has practically exonerated the police from wild accusations of fabricating evidence with the recent discovery of several rounds of high-powered ammunition in a Quezon City property," Velasco said in a joint press conference yesterday at National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Satellite office in Quezon City.

 The NCRPO Chief said that Santarin, a party-claimant of the property at Lot 3, Block 2 Gloria V Subdivision, Santan corner Sampaguita streets, Barangay Talipapa, Novaliches Quezon City, has come out to clear her name and to identify Trillanes as the person who lodged a complaint with the barangay accusing her of trespassing.

Santarin, accompanied by VACC president Martin Dino, said that she had surfaced to shed light on several questions regarding the property. For his part, Dino assured that the VACC will never allow itself to be used by the government for its own end.  "We are only after the truth," the VACC head stressed.   

After the press conference, Santarin and Dino proceeded to the Department of Justice to file her affidavit.

Police assured Santarin, she will be provided with security to ensure her safety.

Trillanes ealier claimed he did not own and has never owned a house or even a lot anywhere in Quezon City. He said the government has been desperately trying to convince NGOs to take on the case of Santarin to portray him to the public that he was a land grabber in order to try to give credence to its arms cache claim.

Last Aug. 21, a series of explosions at the lot prompted concerned citizens to call for firefighting units and assistance from Central Police District (CPD) Station 3. Unearthed were 60 pieces of cal. 50 ammunition; broken pieces of C-4 plastic explosives; broken pieces of electric blasting caps; broken parts of a light anti-tank weapon.

Also discovered were four arm bands bearing the Magdalo Group insignia; a piece of crumpled paper bearing the names of 24 Armed forces of the Philippines personnel with their corresponding ranks; and an abandoned truck. – Non Alquitran