Detention won't hamper Senate work - Trillanes lawyer

AMITA LEGASPI, GMANews.TV

06/14/2007 | 03:30 PM

Former Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV's continued detention will not deter him from serving his mandate as one of the country' senators, his lawyer Reynaldo Robles said.

In a chance interview Thursday, Robles believed Trillanes will be a more focused senator because he has no other things to do except to concentrate on law-making.

"Nakikita kong lalo nga siyang magiging focus sa trabaho niya kasi imagine-in mo siya ay gagawa ng batas..paggising niya wala naman siyang ibang gagawn kundi magtrabaho," he said.

He added: "Hindi siya pwede magbulakbol, hindi siya puwedeng mamasyal sa mall o hindi siya pwedeng mag-night club. So, sa tingin ko mas magiging focus siya sa trabaho niya."

Robles further said his client "will try to work in accordance sa kinommit niyang legislative program."

He said Trillanes have at least 20 proposed bills ranging from anti-corruption, poverty alleviation and education.

"I think he is preparing those bills and hopefully mai-file as soon as ma-open ang Senado," he said.

He further said one of Trillanes' principal advocacies is reforms in the Armed Forces of the Philippines .

"Ang paniwala niya dahil nakita nila bilang mga sundalo yung mga problema sa AFP, ang paniwala niya ay makakatulong siya sa pagreresolve ng mga problema," Robles said.

But first things first, Robles expressed hope the Department of Justice would not oppose their motion for the temporary release of Trillanes from detention to attend the proclamation at the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila.

This, despite the mixed signals Trillanes' group had been receiving from state prosecutors.

The Comelec had earlier said Trillanes' proclamation was scheduled 9:30 a.m. Friday.

"On June 7, Assistant State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon said that they will not oppose but I also saw on TV Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera saying that they will oppose so medyo mixed signals pero I'd rather believe na yung paglabas kay Capt. Trillanes ay kagustuhan ng taumbayan siguro naman ay marapat pagbigyan yung proclamation lang...hindi naman ito humihingi na palabasin siya ng matagal e, ilang oras lang naman yun," he said.

He further said the votes for Trillanes were a combination of those who believe in him, those who were not satisfied with the current administration or protest votes and those who count on him being a public servant.

Robles believed Trillanes is the first senator elected from prison.

He said they would ask the court to allow his client to attend Senate sessions.

"Ang sabi sa akin ni Capt. Trillanes ayaw niyang abusuhin ang tiwala ng taumbayan. He does not want to use this as a ticket, as a way out dun sa kanyang detention," he said.

He added: "Walang problema sa kanya kung kailangang umuwi siya sa selda pag gabi ang importante lang gusto niya makapagsilbi sa taumbayan in accordance with the mandate given to him by the people." - GMANews.TV

Trillanes is newest senator; proclamation set on Friday

AMITA LEGASPI, GMANews.TV

06/14/2007 | 11:47 AM

(Updated 12:30 p.m.) The National Board of Canvassers (NBC) will proclaim on Friday this week former Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV as the 11th winning senatorial candidate of the May 14 polls.

Trillanes, a participant in the failed Oakwood Mutiny in 2003, was finally considered a winner after the NBC counted the votes from Surigao del Norte. He took 16th place there with 44,604 votes, giving him a nationwide total of 11,138,067.

This leaves Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, a colleague of Trillanes at the Genuine Opposition (GO), and Juan Miguel Zubiri of Team Unity as the contenders for the final slot in the Magic 12.

Trillanes now leads Pimentel by 272,666 and Zubiri, by 384,227.

The NBC still has to tabulate votes from Maguindanao which has 337,108 registered voters and 12 precincts in Basilan at least 31,000 voters.

"I really believe it is mathematically impossible to overcome the lead of Mr. Trillanes. In view of this, the board has decided to have a partial proclamation again, in favor of Mr. Trillanes," said Benjamin Abalos, chair of the NBC and the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

"The board has decided to have a partial proclamation again tomorrow morning (9:30 a.m.) before the Maguindanao hearing," he said.

In a radio interview, GO spokesman Adel Tamano expressed elation with the development.

Tamano said that, "We are very happy with that. That's wonderful news."

He urged Trillanes' counsel Rey Robles to immediately ask the court to allow the winning candidate to attend the proclamation rites tomorrow.

"Our preference is that during the proclamation, that he be physically there," Tamano added.

Tamano noted that NBC's decision came a day after GO urged elections commissioners to proclaim Trillanes. GO then said that the waiting time would leave a window for the administration to rig the poll results.

Robles, in a separate interview on dzBB radio, said every legal effort would be done to bring Trillanes to the NBC proclamation.

"We will be working on that, we will do our best ... we are hopeful that Makati regional trial court-Branch 148 will grant our request," Robles said in Filipino.

He added that, "I think Senator Trillanes' request is such a small thing (maliit na bagay lang)."

Trillanes, a member of the mutinous Magdalo group, is currently detained at the Philippine Marine Corps headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

He has been charged with coup d' etat over the Oakwood Mutiny and is undergoing court martial proceedings.

Trillanes is the fourth graduate of the Philippine Military Academy to make up the new Senate. He is a member of PMA Class '95.

Other PMA alumni are Senators Rodolfo Biazon of Class '61, as well as classmates Gregorio Honasan and Panfilo Lacson of Class '71.

Political analysts had earlier warned that a supposed "military bloc" would wield tremendous influence in the Senate. - GMANews.TV

SALAMAT

MGA KAIBIGAN KO, SALAMAT

To all our Volunteers, Supporters, and all Filipinos who believed there is hope for our Motherland,

The past 90 days had truly been anastonishing experience.

At first, I had fears that my candidacy, platform and message would be unacceptable to the Filipino people. But as the campaign period went by it was apparent that such was not the case.

In fact, by the firstweek of March, when our resources wereabout to be depleted, our campaign had been practically sustained and carried forth by anintense spirit of volunteerism all over the country and from all walks of life. This, plus the outpouring of good will and support from the different sectors of society, made our moral victory complete. Yes, there is hope for our country. YOU ARE THAT HOPE.

I admit that we still have a long way togo before we can claimelectoral victory and, as I have said before, I expect this administration to cheat. Hence, weshould not put our guard down.

We must continue to be vigilant in thecoming days to ensure that your collective will is respected and upheld. To all of you, who participated or supported in any way in this campaign, I give my whole-heartedthanks. You will forever be my inspiration, my motivation and my strength.

May God Bless our Country!

ANTONIO FUENTES TRILLANES IV

Trillanes has only five poll watchers, mom says

Trillanes has only five poll watchers, mom says

By Edson C. Tandoc Jr.InquirerLast updated 01:14am (Mla time) 05/18/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Seeing her son in and out of the Magic 12 as the canvassing of votes for senatorial candidates continues, the 68-year-old mother of detained mutiny leader Antonio Trillanes IV is not at all nervous.
"From the beginning, I have offered everything to God. That is why I don't feel stressed," Estelita Trillanes told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a phone interview on Thursday.

Not even the threat of cheating worries her: "You know, when you pray, no evil can overtake you. Dagdag-bawas (vote padding and shaving) is considered evil. How can evil overtake goodness?"

The voices of her grandchildren playing could be heard as she spoke on the phone. She said she was in the house of one of her daughters.

Trillanes' mother was instrumental in ending the Oakwood mutiny on July 27, 2003 when she personally met with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in an attempt to save her son as the ultimatum for the mutineers’ surrender neared.

On Thursday, she was monitoring the canvassing of votes through news reports. She said her family did not have enough money to pay for poll watchers.

Trillanes of the Genuine Opposition has volunteers, but there are only five of them watching the official canvassing at the Philippine International Convention Center and only two monitoring the quick count by the National Citizen's Movement for Free Elections.

"We are leaving it to the Genuine Opposition. We cannot afford individual watchers," the mother said.

Her son's strong showing, despite being behind bars and campaigning with limited funds, did not surprise her.

"We saw during the campaign the attitude of people toward my son. They would approach his campaign volunteers to ask for calendars. Some donated calendars and shirts," she said.

Mrs Trillanes was not active during the campaign, saying she was already too weak to go around places. But she said she asked her friends and relatives to support her son.

In the latest tally of the Commission on Elections as of 5:54 p.m. Thursday, Trillanes placed 10th with 80,823 votes.

Trillanes thanks voters for ‘astonishing’ run

Trillanes thanks voters for ‘astonishing’ run

05/18/2007 08:07 AM

Even as he remains in detention for rebellion charges, opposition senatorial bet Antonio Trillanes IV thanked his volunteers and supporters for fueling his “astonishing" campaign run.

Trillanes posted the message dated Wednesday in a statement on his blog site (magdaloparasapagbabago.blogspot.com), even as he called on his supporters to remain vigilant.

“I admit that we still have a long way to go before we can claim electoral victory and, as I have said before, I expect this administration to cheat. Hence, we should not put our guard down. We must continue to be vigilant in the coming days to ensure that your collective will is respected and upheld," he said in his message.

Still, he said the past 90-day campaign period had “truly been an astonishing experience," where he admitted fears his candidacy would be unacceptable to the Filipino people.

Trillanes, who faces rebellion charges over the Oakwood Mutiny of 2003, spent most of the campaign period from his detention facility.His family joined the Genuine Opposition (GO) in campaigning for him during the 90-day campaign.

Trillanes addressed the GO miting de avance last May 11 through a videotaped message.“As the campaign period went by it was apparent that such was not the case.

In fact, by the first week of March, when our resources were about to be depleted, our campaign had been practically sustained and carried forth by an intense spirit of volunteerism all over the country and from all walks of life. This, plus the outpouring of goodwill and support from the different sectors of society, made our moral victory complete.

Yes, there is hope for our country. YOU ARE THAT HOPE," Trillanes said in his message.He relayed his “whole-hearted thanks" to those who participated or supported in any way in his campaign.“You will forever be my inspiration, my motivation and my strength. May God Bless our Country!" he said. - GMANews.TV

MARAMI PONG SALAMAT!

MARAMI PONG SALAMAT SA SUPORTA AT PAGTITIWALA!

MABUHAY ANG MALAYA AT MARANGAL NA FILIPINO!

Trillanes hangs on to Magic 12

Trillanes hangs on to Magic 12

By Cathy C. Yamsuan, Nikko DizonInquirerLast updated 04:06am (Mla time) 05/17/2007
MANILA, Philippines -- It was 8-2-2 in favor of the Genuine Opposition (GO) as of 9:11

Wednesday night in the quick count by the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections.
GO increased its lead over the administration’s Team Unity (TU) in the official count of the overseas absentee votes.

It was 8-3-1 for GO, according to partial results of the canvassing presided over by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc sitting as the National Board of Canvassers.
After slipping out of the Magic 12 in early tabulation Wednesday, Antonio Trillanes IV moved up to 11th place based on Namfrel’s tally as of 9:11 Wednesday night.

TU’s Juan Miguel Zubiri who earlier placed 12th in the winning circle dropped to No. 13 with Trillanes’ reentry.

From 8th place, Trillanes slid to 13th place Wednesday afternoon before climbing to 11th place Wednesday night. TU’s Edgardo Angara and Joker Arroyo maintained their steady climb in the Magic 12 in the Namfrel count.

GO’s Francis Escudero, who was trailing fellow GO candidate Loren Legarda Wednesday afternoon, captured the top slot Wednesday night but by a very narrow margin of 116 votes.
GO’s Alan Peter Cayetano climbed to 9th place from 10th, exchanging places with independent Gregorio Honasan who slid to 10th. Aquilino Pimentel III of GO dropped from 11th place to 12th.

The women’s group Gabriela was the front-runner among party-list groups, followed by Buhay and Bayan Muna.

At its headquarters at the La Salle gym in Greenhills, San Juan, Namfrel had so far counted votes from 24,394 precincts from all regions.

Results from 15 countries

Over at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, the official Comelec tabulation of the certificates of canvass (CoCs) for the senatorial elections began Wednesday with results from 15 countries and a US territory in the overseas absentee voting.
The votes came from the following countries: Laos, Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, South Korea, Austria, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Netherlands, Japan, India, Thailand, Bahrain, and Palau, a US territory.

There were a total of 38,469 registered voters in these places but only 5,742 or almost 15 percent voted in May.

Only one voted in Slovenia. No votes were cast in Kiribati and Solomon Islands.
Angara rose from 11th place at the start of the Namfrel tabulation Tuesday morning to 7th place Wednesday night, while Arroyo climbed from 12th to 8th place.

Legarda topped tabulations in Regions 1, 2, 8, 11, 12 and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
Escudero was No. 1 in Metro Manila, Regions 4, 5 and 10, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the Caraga region.

Angara remained in 1st place in Central Luzon and Region 7.

Panfilo Lacson of GO was No. 1 in Region 9 tabulations and maintained his 3rd place standing in the Namfrel count with 996,017 votes.

GO guest candidate Manuel Villar was first in Region 6 and placed fourth on the Namfrel list.
Independent candidate Francis Pangilinan was steady at No. 5.
Benigno Aquino III also maintained his standing in 6th place.

Trailing Trillanes

Trailing Trillanes were Pimentel, Zubiri, TU’s Ralph Recto at No. 14; Prospero Pichay at No. 15 and Michael Defensor at No. 16.

GO’s Sonia Roco was in 17th place followed by TU’s Cesar Montano and GO’s John Osmeña.
Along with Trillanes, Roco and Osmeña’s rankings dropped dramatically as tabulations from the various regions came in Wednesday.

Roco started in 13th place when Namfrel began its tabulation. Osmeña initially was in 16th place.

Pichay enjoyed a steady climb from No. 18 since Namfrel began its count.

Comelec count

In the Comelec count, Pangilinan was in 1st place, followed by Legarda. Aquino was in 3rd place; Villar, 4th, and Escudero, 5th. Arroyo was in 6th place; Lacson, 7th; Cayetano, 8th; Angara, 9th; Pimentel, 10th; Roco, 11th, and Defensor, 12th.

Zubiri was in 13th place, followed by Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Honasan and Osmeña.

The canvassing will resume Thursday at 10 a.m. with CoCs from Malaysia and vote-rich Hong Kong.

At a press conference, Comelec Chair Benjamin Abalos Sr. said that the National Board of Canvassers (NBC) hoped to complete the canvassing for both OAV and CoCs from the provinces and Metro Manila “within 10 days” and proclaim the winners.

Abalos said that the NBC might partially canvass the CoCs in the 13 municipalities in Lanao del Sur depending on the election results there following a yet-to-be-scheduled special elections in the province.

“If the result of the 13 municipalities could no longer affect the result of the national position for senators, then we would not have to wait for the results of the special elections,” Abalos said.
Roco’s visit

Roco paid a visit to the Namfrel headquarters Wednesday night, intending to ask which areas in Mindanao the citizen’s arm had already included in its tabulation.

In a chance interview, Roco expressed concern over “30 towns in Mindanao” where the Commission on Elections had declared a failure of elections.

“This is a recurring phenomenon, or event, that every election, that a failure of elections is declared in certain towns, usually in the same places. They (authorities) should hold the elections in these places in the next 15 days,” she said.

Roco noted that an estimated 300,000 votes could still be counted from the problematic areas, a number that is significant enough to alter the outcome of the senatorial race.

Still, Roco expressed confidence that her current rank would still improve because both Namfrel and Comelec tabulations were still in their early stages of counting. With reports from Kristine Mangunay, Aaron John del Rosario, Cyrian Agujo and Nathaniel Melican

Trillanes was simply more attractive than Honasan

Honasan inclusion in GO unlikely over Aquino protest
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=61986
By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 03:14pm (Mla time) 04/23/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Now it can be told: It was the group of former president Corazon Aquino that had allegedly objected to the inclusion of former senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan in the opposition’s senatorial ticket.

Former ambassador Ernesto Maceda disclosed this on Monday as he ruled out the possibility that his friend, Honasan, might still be included in the senatorial slate of the Genuine Opposition (GO).

“The main objection came from the Cory [the former leader’s nickname] group so the Liberal Party could bring Noynoy in,” Maceda said in a phone interview, referring to opposition senatorial bet and Tarlac Representative Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, an LP member.

“Remember, Honasan had rebelled against Cory so it was very clear that Noynoy and his mother would have not joined the UNO [United Opposition] if he is in our slate,” Maceda said, referring to several failed attempts by the former military officer and his group to oust Aquino in the ‘80s.

Maceda did not identify who in the opposition belonged to the “Cory group” but Chit Asis, director-general of the LP, said those identified with the former president, aside from her son, were LP president and Senator Franklin Drilon, former congressman Florencio Abad, and the civil society group, the Black and White Movement.

In a separate interview however Leah Navarro of the Black and White Movement denied that her group had objected to Honasan’s inclusion in the GO list.

She confirmed though that the group’s urban sector, the Black and White Katipunan, had strongly pushed for the inclusion of rebel soldier, Navy Lieutenant Antonio Trillanes IV, in the opposition list.

For the civil society, Navarro said Trillanes was simply more attractive than Honasan.

“We have nothing against Honasan but some of us got disappointed when he filed his candidacy and said that he would be happy to get support from anyone, from any side. In effect, he was opening himself to the TEAM Unity,” she said.

“He was a little too eager to ask assistance from each side,” she said. ”If it’s true that he’s part of Oakwood mutiny, that flip-flopping is too quick. His long disappearance, what’s that all about? He has to clarify that,” said Navarro, referring to the shortlived rebellion by junior officers and soldiers in July 2003 that Honasan had allegedly masterminded. Trillanes had been part of that uprising.

Both are facing coup d’etat charges, although Honasan has been allowed to post bail.

Unless Honasan clarified his stand on the many issues surrounding the country, Navarro said it would be difficult for the civil society to believe his sincerity as an independent candidate.

Maceda admitted that while he had been rooting for Honasan, he could no longer insist on his inclusion in the opposition even if there was an available slot after Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan of the LP decided to run as an independent.

Maceda pointed out that some key opposition allies like Susan Roces, widow of the late presidential aspirant Fernando Poe Jr.; and Rez Cortez, actor and known supporter of Poe; and the LP had each endorsed a 12th candidate.

Roces and Cortez are backing independent senatorial bet and actor Richard Gomez while the LP-wing of Drilon is supporting the candidacy of Pangilinan.

Maceda said he was printing ballots containing the names of all 11 opposition candidates and Honasan.

GO spokesman Adel Tamano also ruled out the possibility of Honasan joining the opposition, citing its commitment with the LP not to get a replacement for Pangilinan.

“The Genuine Opposition has already expressed its opinion that we had agreements with our coalition partners, particularly the Liberal Party that we will not be taking in another candidate or a guest candidate,” Tamano said.

Meanwhile, Maceda discouraged Honasan from joining the administration slate or end up like former senators Vicente “Tito” Sotto and Tessie Aquino-Oreta, who he claimed were rating poorly in the surveys after joining the administration.

Honasan, Sotto, and Oreta were former members of the opposition.

Trillanes wants temporary leave from detention to campaign

Trillanes wants temporary leave from detention to campaign
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view_article.php?article_id=61936
By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 12:21pm (Mla time) 04/23/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Ex-Navy Lieutenant Antonio Trillanes IV said he would ask the court handling his coup d'etat case to allow him to temporarily leave detention a week before the May 14 midterm elections so that he could personally campaign.

"It is important that I deliver my message personally to the people," Trillanes told INQUIRER.net in an interview at his detention cell in the Philippine Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio on Monday.

The official campaign period for national and local candidates ends on May 12, two days before Election Day.

Asked when he wanted to leave his cell, Trillanes said: "On the last week of the campaign."

Trillanes is among 31 junior officers and enlisted men who have been charged with coup d'etatMakati regional trial court over their alleged participation in a shortlived mutiny in July 2003. before Branch 148 of the

Last week, the former officer was allowed to grant media interviews from his cell on the condition that a copy of the questions to be asked would be submitted to the court and that a three-day notice before the interview be sent to his custodians.

"Our campaign received a shot in the arm because of this media access. We hope to break the top 12 at the end of the month," said Trillanes, who placed 21st in the March survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) and the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the parent company of INQUIRER.net.

Trillanes said he has spent "close to P5 million" for the campaign, with the money coming from supporters and relatives, who recently staged two fund-raising events.

Asked how much he intended to spend for this Senate bid, Trillanes said: "As much as there is money available."

"My campaign is based on a proxy machinery to conduct the campaign on my behalf. Right now, they are going around the countryside to increase awareness and introduce the people to my legislative agenda and my background," he said.

MENSAHE NI TRILLANES

MESSAGE OF ANTONIO F. TRILLANES IV
GO Proclamation Rally
February 24, 2007


Maraming salamat po sa mga naririto ngayon at sa lahat ng mga sumusuporta at naniniwala sa mga ipinaglalaban namin sa Genuine Opposition

Ipagpaumanhin po ninyo at wala ako dito ngayon upang ipahayag ng personal ang mensaheng ito dahil hanggang sa ngayon nakakulong ako at ang aking mga kasamahan. Kung natatandaan ninyo, ibinunyag namin sa Oakwood noong 2003 ang iba’t ibang katiwalian sa gobyerno at sa AFP na nagdudulot sa walang katapusang digmaan sa Mindanao at ibang lugar sa Pilipinas. Ngayon, tatlo’t kalahating taon ang nakalipas, nandiyan pa rin ang katiwalian kung kaya’t nandiyan pa rin ang digmaan. Marami nang namatay at marami pang mamamatay; kailangan po nating tapusin ito. Iyan po ang isa sa mga pangunahing dahilan kung bakit ako tatakbo bilang senador.

Marami na po akong inihandang mga panukala na sumasakop sa iba’t ibang adhikain gaya ng: anti-corruption, poverty alleviation, peace and order, at education. Subalit ako ay naniniwala na habang nakaupo si GMA, wala po ni isa sa mga panukalang ito ang natutupad dahil wala sa puso niya ang kapakanan ng mamamayan. Napatunayan na natin ito sa pamamagitan ng anim na taong paghihirap simula ng umupo siya noong 2001. At narinig mismo natin sa “Hello Garci” kung gaano kagahaman sa kapangyarihan si GMA. Wag na po tayong umasa na magbabago sya. Sa madaling salita: walang kapayapaan at walang pag-unlad habang nakaupo si GMA.

Kaya naman kung papalarin at mahalal ako bilang senador, ngayon pa lang ay sasabihin ko na ang boto ko sa impeachment court: GUILTY. Guilty si GMA sa pagsisinungaling, pandaraya at pagnanakaw. Guilty rin sya sa pagpatay, pang-aabuso, pang-aapi, at pagpapahirap sa mga mamamayan.

Ganyan po kahalaga ang boto natin sa darating na halalan. Nais ba nating mapanatili si GMA at magdusa ang bayan habang nakaupo sya? O simulan ang pagbabago sa pamamahala na walang ibang hahantungan kundi ang minimithi nating kapayapaan at kaunlaran.

Tandaan natin na ang kapalaran ng ating bansa ay nasa ating mga kamay.

Mabuhay!!

Trillanes dares Joker to a debate

Trillanes dares Joker to a debate
02/22/2007 | 06:02 PM

Detained opposition senatorial candidate Navy Lt. s.g. Antonio Trillanes IV challenged his critics Thursday “to be man enough" to face him squarely and give him a chance to answer issues hurled against him.

“In the past several days, I’ve been the target of verbal attacks by some officials and candidates of the administration," Trillanes said in a statement.

“While I expected this type of gutter politics from them, I was hoping that they were at least man enough to let me address their attacks squarely by not opposing my court motion to be allowed access to media."

Trillanes then pleaded: “I want a fair fight."

He also challenged Team Unity senatorial candidate Joker Arroyo to a debate about the country’s problems.

“I am not a debater myself, but I believe this is a way of elevating the level of election campaigning to where it ought to be. May the candidate with the better prescriptions win," he said.

Trillanes said if Joker Arroyo will accept his challenge, he is ready anytime. “If [Arroyo declines], then keep your “trapo" (traditional politician) ways to yourself because it is a disservice to the electorate."

Trillanes, the alleged leader of a group of young military officers who launched a short-lived mutiny in Makati on July 27, 2003, also criticized the harassment being applied by the military to his relatives, friends and supporters.

“They have been subjected to harassment and scare tactics by a few misinformed elements of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines). Whoever is behind these, I beg you to spare them because this violates the ethics of any kind of warfare," he added.

He urged the AFP leadership instead to welcome the possibility of having another former soldier as a legislator since it will bring another voice of the soldiers in the Senate to push for the interest of the officers and enlisted men.

“I also would like to thank the Genuine Opposition (GO) for all their support in the campaign and for standing up for me [amid] accusations. I express my deepest gratitude to all the volunteers who have been helping in the campaign," he said.

According to Trillanes he expects that his candidacy will be a long and difficult fight.

“But be assured my supporters that [if I win] I will lead you to no less than a victory for our country and people," he said.-Fidel Jimenez,GMANews.TV

AFP orders probe on soldiers' e-campaign for Trillanes

AFP orders probe on soldiers' e-campaign for Trillanes
AMITA LEGASPI,GMANews.TV
02/20/2007 | 06:02 PM

Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr ordered on Tuesday an investigation on soldiers suspected of helping through the Internet, the election campaign of detained Lieutenant SG Antonio Trillanes IV.

Radio dzBB reported Esperon wondered how Trillanes was able to post messages in his blogs and Friendster accounts when there was no phone line and internet connection inside his detention cell.

Trillanes, who filed his candidacy to run for the Senate on February 6, is detained at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

Esperon said the resigned Navy officer would not be able to do it without the help of sympathetic soldiers.

Trillanes’ friends, who identified themselves as a group of military personnel, earlier dedicated a website for the detained Navy officer to boost his campaign.

During the filing of COC, Trillanes said he is upbeat about his chances to secure a Senate seat despite his detention. "I have many supporters, we will launch a proxy campaign all over the country," Trillanes said, adding, “we will maximize technology – TV, radio, print, text (SMS) and the Internet."

In his blogspot, (http://magdaloparasapagbabago.blogspot.com/) Trillanes said: “More than three years ago, my fellow soldiers and I stood for our convictions and pushed for reforms to pursue our collective vision: to live in a society where there is no corruption… where the streets are safe and the needs of the poor are addressed adequately…where every citizen is provided with the best education, sufficient health care, and genuine public service."

He said this “vision has sustained me throughout the years" and that “now… is the time to carry forth this vision."

Meanwhile, in his Friendster account that caters more to the youth, (www.friendster/trillanes), he posted that his hobbies are tennis, badminton, chess, basketball, malling with his family and watching movies.

His favorite books are True Believer, American Ceasar, Brotherhood of the Rose, Books of Robert Ludlum and Frederick Forsyth.

Trillanes' favorite songs are those by the Side A Band and Mike Francis.

Esperon reiterated his warning that charges of violation of articles of war will be filed against soldiers found conspiring with Trillanes.

Dzbb quoted Esperon as saying that the AFP will not allow Trillanes to go out of his detention cell to campaign. He said Trillanes still faces charges before the general court martial and the Makati regional trial court.

On July 27, 2003, a group of 321 armed soldiers led by Trillanes, who called themselves Magdalo, took over the Oakwood Premier hotel in Ayala, Makati to protest the alleged massive corruption in the government of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The mutiny ended in 18 hours after the soldiers failed to get support from the public and the leadership of the armed forces. The soldiers, including Trillanes, surrendered peacefully and were charged in a general court martial.

Esperon earlier issued an order barring any member of the AFP, including civilian employees, from either endorsing or campaigning publicly, in any form, for a particular candidate to any elective position.

"These guidelines were set not to infringe on the individual rights of our soldiers and employees but rather to ensure that the AFP as an organization remains to be non-partisan," Esperon said.
GMANews.TV

DOJ blocks Trillanes plea for media interviews

FROM WWW.GMANEWS.TV
DOJ blocks Trillanes plea for media interviews
02/22/2007 | 04:08 PM

The Department of Justice (DOJ) asked Thursday the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) to reject the motion filed by alleged renegade junior officer Lt. s.g. Antonio Trillanes IV for full media exposure so he can air his government platform during the campaign period.

Trillanes, currently detained at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig for coup d’etat and for alleged violation of Article of War 96 (conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman), is running for senator under the Genuine Opposition (GO) coalition.

The junior officer, who led the July 27, 2003 mutiny by seizing a plush hotel-apartment in Makati, invoked the freedom of the press in his plea to be interviewed by members of media.

In his motion for full media access, Trillanes said as a detainee he has not lost his constitutional rights.

He also cited the Sibal’s “Philippine Legal Encyclopedia (1991)" to claim that he has an absolute “right to run and campaign."

In a four-page rejoinder, State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera said although Trillanes can be presumed innocent until proven guilty by the court, the junior officer is not entitled to freedom of the press because he is not a member of media.

Navera said “Trillanes cannot point where in the 1987 Constitution his absolute right to run and campaign is provided for."

“In fact, while he assails the prosecution’s supposed self-serving arguments, his failure to cite an explicit Supreme Court doctrine in this regard, constrains him to make his own self-serving interpretations about Sibal’s definition of the right to vote," Navera said.

Trillanes cannot also compare himself to the late senator Benigno Aquino who was allowed in 1978 by dictator Ferdinand Marcos to be interviewed on television and to campaign through media during the martial law regime, according to Navera.

“The undersigned State Prosecutors were not even born during the dark days of martial law and counsel for accused Trillanes’ childhood memory of free access to the media given to Senator Aquino cannot be seriously considered as evidence nor given judicial notice," Navera said.

Navera said the scales of justice have been tilted since December last year in favor of Trillanes.

“He has been allowed to register as a voter in Caloocan City. The prosecution allowed him to personally file his certificate of candidacy for senator at the Commission on Elections (Comelec). The prosecution relented and allowed accused Trillanes to pick his preferred date of filing his certificate of candidacy," Navera said.

Navera said nothing will satisfy Trillanes when it comes to his supposedly absolute right to run and campaign.- GMANews.TV

TRILLANES!

WALANG KAPARES!

SENADOR!

SA PANAHON NA ANG BAYAN AY NABABALOT SA PAG-AALINLANGAN- MAY TAONG NANINDIGAN PARA SA KATOTOHANAN- MAGING KAPALIT MA'Y SARILI NIYANG KALAYAAN- TRILLANES!