MANILA, Philippines – Some senators on Wednesday, September 5, questioned the presence of armed military personnel inside the Senate compound after President Rodrigo Duterte issued an order to revoke the amnesty granted to opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto and Senator Francis Escudero raised the question, as they noted that no arrest warrant had been issued against Trillanes.

“From what I know, there’s no warrant of arrest issued by any court…. So what are they doing there [when] there is no warrant of arrest?” Recto told reporters after visiting Trillanes’ office.

Escudero said some colleagues were concerned over the presence of soldiers and policemen which made the chamber appear “militarized.”

“Siyempre concern ‘yun dahil na-mimilitarize ang institution at establisyemento ng Senado na hindi pa naman dapat (Of course it is a concern because the Senate as an institution is being militarized),” Escudero said in a separate interview.

Escudero said Trillanes has already said he would not resist arrest officers once a warrant is issued.

“Pangalawa, wala pa naman silang warrant na pinapakita so hindi ko alam kung ano at bakit sila nandito (Second, they don’t have an  arrest warrant so I don’t know why they’re here),” Escudero said. 

“Masama lang talagang tingnan. Kung ‘ika nga overkill ‘yung kanilang ginagawang pagpapakita dito ng wala namang sapat na basehan sa pananaw ko (It really looks bad. What they’re doing is an overkill, they’re presence here that, in my view, does not have enough basis),” he added. 

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, however, does not share the same view.

“Nope. It’s additional security actually,” Sotto told Rappler when asked if he agreed with his colleagues.

Sotto, however, reiterated that soldiers and policemen are not allowed to enter the Senate without his permission through the Office of the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms.

He earlier heeded Trillanes’ request to be put under his custody while the opposition senator exhausted legal remedies. Trillanes would remain inside Senate premises for now. – Rappler.com

Follow the developments here: 

• Disobey Duterte’s ‘illegal orders,’ Alejano asks AFP, PNP
• Makati court can’t just reopen Trillanes case – IBP
• Trillanes amnesty application could’ve been ‘maliciously concealed’
• No warrant for now: Court gives Trillanes chance to challenge arrest request
• Amnesty of other Magdalo mutineers to be reviewed too – Roque
• Military can arrest Trillanes without warrant – DND
• Robredo: Opposition coalition stands with Trillanes
• Makati court can tackle validity of voiding Trillanes amnesty
• DND has another explanation for Trillanes’ missing amnesty papers
• Trillanes says DND may be charged for ‘losing’ his amnesty application
• DOCUMENTS: DND confirms Trillanes applied for amnesty
• Jail time now also possible for former mutineers turned Duterte appointees
• House called to denounce ‘unlawful’ Trillanes amnesty revocation
• PNP: We sent CIDG to ensure Trillanes’ ‘legal’ arrest
• DOJ to seek warrant vs Trillanes in another court ‘but court martial faster’
• [WRAP] Day 2: Trillanes gets relief from court, DOJ seeks options