Court defers decision on mutineer's case

MANILA, Philippines – Today’s scheduled promulgation of the decision on the coup d état charges against Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and his co-accused was deferred yesterday.

Judge Oscar Pimentel of Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 granted the motion of Trillanes and his co-accused to defer the promulgation on grounds that Congress has concurred on the amnesty proclamation of President Aquino.

Rey Robles, counsel of Trillanes, said their motion aims to give way to Congress to discuss the amnesty proclamation.

 “We address our motion to the wisdom of the Court and fortunately the court heeded our motion,” he said.

“The amnesty has the legal effect of wiping out crimes of my clients.”

 Robles said Congress is set to tackle on Nov. 8 the amnesty proclamation for Trillanes and the other Magdalo soldiers.

The House of Representatives committee on justice and national defense will also discuss the amnesty proclamation on Nov. 10, Robles said.