MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to stop President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to revoke the amnesty granted to him and for his immediate arrest.

Trillanes’ camp filed the petition against Proclamation 572 on Thursday, September 6, two days after Duterte’s order was published in the Manila Times. The proclamation was signed on August 31.

In an interview at the Senate a day before the filing, Trillanes said Duterte’s order should “alarm” SC justices. (READ: Trillanes vows to face arrest: ‘Mr Duterte, hindi ako takot sa iyo’)

“Basura ang proclamation na ito…. This goes beyond political lines dahil ‘yung presidential declaration na ‘yun should alarm the justices of the Supreme Court kasi nandodoon ‘yung exercise ni Duterte ng executive, legislative, and judicial powers,” Trillanes said in a press conference on Wednesday, September 4, outside his Senate office, where he had stayed the night.

(This proclamation is garbage. This goes beyond political lines because that presidential declaration should alarm the justices of the Supreme Court – Duterte’s exercise of executive, legislative, and judicial powers is all indicated there.)

“If i-affirm ‘yung proclamation, puwede nang mag-issue ng warrant ‘yung President (If that proclamation is affirmed, the President can just issue a warrant of arrest),” he added.

On Tuesday, the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 gave the senator 5 days to comment on the Department of Justice’s motion for an alias arrest warrant and hold departure order against Trillanes.

But the Department of National Defense said the military could still arrest Trillanes without a warrant. Since the senator’s amnesty was ordered void, Trillanes is supposedly reverted to his rank, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had said.

Trillanes opposed this, saying he was no longer part of the AFP after filing his Certificate of Candidacy for senator for the 2007 elections. He was elected that year.

DND Internal Audit Service chief Robert Rubin insisted, however, that Trillanes had been reverted to military service after his amnesty was revoked. (READ: Without amnesty, Trillanes’ retirement voided too)

Other lawmakers also questioned the validity of the order. Opposition senators have vowed to fight Duterte’s order, calling it an “illegal and abusive exercise of presidential power,” while other groups called it a “cowardly act.” 

– Rappler.com

Follow the developments here:

• Esperon knows Trillanes quit military before amnesty
• LOOK: Inside Trillanes’ ‘home’ in the Senate
• Trillanes vows to run after Guevarra, Calida, DND officials over amnesty issue
• Military arrest for Trillanes? But penalty is dismissal from service
• Robredo visits Trillanes in Senate
• EXPLAINER: Why Trillanes chose to go to the Supreme Court
• Sotto: Military can’t enter Senate in case of court martial arrest