Trillanes gets leave to register in Caloocan

Trillanes gets leave to register in Caloocan

Article posted December 8, 2006

After getting a court order for it, Magdalo leader Navy Lt. Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV finally got out of detention Friday to register with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as a voter in his home city of Caloocan.

But there was one major hitch – the Comelec does not allow registration on Friday and Saturday, and did not make an exception for Trillanes and many voters lined up that day. In its interview with election officer Arlene Ramos, radio station dzBB reported that the Comelec does not entertain registration on Friday and Saturday and that allowing Trillanes and the others to do would could result in a technicality.

Ramos also declined Trillanes' requests to at least complete the other requirements such as fingerprinting and filling up of forms, the same radio report said. A disappointed Trillanes said he would try to get a court order to allow him to return, possibly next week. "I was allowed to register here due to a court order.

I registered here because I was born and raised here," the detained Navy junior officer told dzBB radio in an interview. Asked why he seemed to have no uniformed military escorts with him, Trillanes merely said in Filipino: "I have many escorts."

At the same time, Trillanes, who affirmed his plans to run for senator next year, called for nationwide vigilance against the moves of the administration-dominated House of Representatives to convene Congress next week into a constituent assembly aimed at introducing changes to the 1987 Constitution.

"We must watch the developments at the Lower House. It is violating all rules of decency," he said. Trillanes, one of the hardcore leaders of the Magdalo group that staged the short-lived July 27, 2003 Oakwood mutiny, is facing court martial for alleged violation of the Articles of War and coup charges before the Makati regional trial court in connection with the failed uprising. He is currently detained at the Bonifacio Naval Station inside the Philippine Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio.

Trillanes’ Estrellita, one of those who accompanied him to the Comelec, said she was apprehensive about her son’s political plans. "I am worried," she said, adding that she had been trying to dissuade her son from entering the political ring. The political opposition had said that Trillanes is being considered to be included in its senatorial slate in time for the May 2007 midterm elections. - GMANews.TV