Accused mutineer asks court for furlough

Determined to follow former senator Gregorio Honasan’s footsteps, accused mutineer Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes of the Magdalo Group is now asking the Makati City regional trial court (RTC) to grant him temporary liberty so he can file his certificate of candidacy.

Trillanes is seeking a Senate seat in the May national and local elections.

In a motion filed yesterday, he asked Branch 148 Judge Oscar Pimentel to let him leave his detention facility at the Philippine Marine Brigade in Fort Bonifacio sometime between Jan. 29 to Feb. 3.

Trillanes, through his lawyer Reynaldo Robles, said he also wants to grant interviews with the media so he could present his plans and programs.

However, the court denied the request noting that allowing the same would be tantamount to premature campaigning or electioneering, which is against election laws.

Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon of the Department of Justice (DOJ) said the prosecutor might not oppose Trillanes’ request that he be allowed to file his certificate of candidacy considering that he was allowed to register as a voter in Caloocan last month.

"I guess we will just file our comment since opposing it might be an exercise in futility," he told The STAR in an interview. "Our concern would be to ensure that all necessary precautions are undertaken. He is considered a celebrity also so he should be properly escorted and brought back immediately."

Fadullon said yesterday’s resumption of hearings for the defense did not push through because Magdalo group lawyers filed last-minute extensions to the deadline given to them to comment on the prosecution’s formal offer of evidence.