Thursday, June 14, 2007

Detention won't hamper Senate work - Trillanes lawyer



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

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