Judge allows Trillanes’ overseas trip

MANILA, Philippines — A Makati judge handling the rebellion case of opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has granted his request to travel to some parts of Europe and the United States. 

 “Taking therefore into account the previous conduct demonstrated by Sen. Trillanes and the purpose of his travel coupled with the fact that he is not considered a flight risk, the court is persuaded to grant his request to travel abroad,” Judge Elmo Alameda of Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 said. 

Alameda also said that the permission to allow Trillanes to travel abroad came after he posted P200,000 bail for his rebellion case, which was revived after he upheld President Duterte’s Proclamation No. 572.

Duterte’s proclamation has nullified the amnesty granted to Trillanes.  

Alameda said the hold departure order issued against him is temporarily lifted. 

Trillanes’ lawyer Reynaldo Robles recently asked Alameda to allow the senator to attend several events in Amsterdam, Barcelona and London from Dec. 11, 2018 to Jan. 12, 2019. 

Trillanes is also set to attend events in California, Washington DC and Maryland. 

The Department of Justice filed on Tuesday its motion asking the court to stop Trillanes from leaving the country, claiming he is considered a flight risk pending his cases in the court and in several local courts in Metro Manila.