Kiko Pangilinan slams ‘distortion’ of law under Duterte: Puro kritiko ang puntirya. The law is being “mangled viciously” to allow for tyranny to reign, Senator Kiko Pangilinan said on Tuesday.
He made remark after the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 issued a warrant of arrest against Senator Sonny Trillanes.
The lower court’s order stemmed from the petition of the Department of Justice to arrest him after President Rodrigo Duterte revoked the amnesty granted to Trillanes in 2011 by then President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.
“Arrest inflation not the opposition,” said Pangilinan, who belongs to the Senate minority bloc just like Trillanes.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the government must “ensure” Trillanes’ safety.
“Since the charge, by order of the court, is bailable, his security must be ensured by the State,” Recto said in a text message.
Pangilinan said that the issuance of an arrest warrant for a criminal case dismissed 7 years ago because of an amnesty proclamation for offenses committed 15 years ago “is a judicial issuance devoid of legal basis.”
“While we respect the court order, we disagree with it,” said Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party (LP).
“It is as clear as day that the revocation of grant of amnesty is illegal and abuse of presidential powers and must be vigorously opposed,” he said.
He said that all pieces of evidence submitted to the Court both documentary and testimonial prove a valid application and amnesty proclamation.
“Maliwanag na panggigipit ito ng administrasyon sa isang kritiko nito,” Pangilinan said.
source: politics.com.ph