(Eagle News) — Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday, Sept. 5, said the Department of National Defense has no jurisdiction over him.
In a press conference, Trillanes said this was because as of 2007, he was already considered a civilian.
Defense officials, however, already said that even if this was the case, Trillanes could still be court-martialled as he violated the Articles of War as a soldier.
“Pursuant to Section 66 of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, (Trillanes) of the Philippine Navy is resigned ipso facto from the regular rolls of the (Armed Forces of the Philippines) effective February 2007 by order of the Secretary of National Defense..,” Trillanes read from what he said was his proof he could not face court martial proceedings for his participation in the Oakwood Mutiny and the Peninsula Manila siege in 2003 and 2007, respectively.
Trillanes said that on the basis of the “order,” he secured a “clearance and I was cleared.”
He said as of February 2007, “di na ako sumsweldo.”
“So if totoo nga na narevoke ang amnesty which we are contesting..2010 yun. Kahit tanggalin yun, 2007 palang civilian na ako,” he said.
“Ito statement of service ko..meron pa bang malabo dyan? I hope Colonel (Edgar) Arevalo, sir, ito na dokumento na hinahanap niyo..walang court martial, walang kaso sa civilian courts..So para saan pa..Bakit pa ako maaresto?” he asked.