MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday, September 6, visited Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in his Senate office, where he has been staying for 3 days now. (LOOK: Inside Trillanes’ ‘home’ in the Senate)

Robredo said she decided to personally show her support for Trillanes after she spoke at an event at the nearby Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). 

The Senate leadership, supported by majority of the senators, allowed Trillanes to stay in the building as he tries to exhaust legal solutions in his case.

“Naisip ko na malapit na rin [ako], makausap man lang si Senator Trillanes para maabutan ng suporta,” Robredo told reporters just before meeting with Trillanes.

(Since I’m already near, I thought of visiting so I can talk to Senator Trillanes to show support.)

“Alam ko si Senator Trillanes kaya depensahan ang sarili. Yung sa akin lang, malaman nya lang na hindi man kami mag-kapareho ng partido, alam namin [ang] ginagawa sa kanya. At dahil mali ginagawa sa kanya, nakikiisa kami sa kanya,” Robredo said.

(I know Senator Trillanes can defend himself. For me, I want him to know that even if we are not from the same party, we know what is being done to him. And because it is wrong, we are one with him.)

Robredo said President Rodrigo Duterte’s revocation of the amnesty granted to Trillanes in 2011 is a clear form of “harassment” and is meant to silence his critics.

Despite this, she said the persecution of Trillanes would unify the opposition even more. (READ: #AnimatED: Kris vs Mocha: Lessons for the catatonic opposition)

“Yung nangyayari kay Senator Trrillanes, lalo pa nyang iuunify ang oposisyon, lalo pang binigyan ng dahilan para magkaisa,” she said. (What is happening to Senator Trillanes will unify the opposition more. It will give us more reasons to unite.)

“Sana di ito maging dahilan para matakot ang ating kababayan. Bagkus maging dahilan ito para magkaisa tayo,” she said. (I hope this does not become a reason for the public to be afraid. Instead, I hope it becomes the reason for our unity.)

In February 2017, Senator Leila de Lima, Duterte’s fiercest critic, was jailed over drug charges she maintains were fabricated. It was De Lima who launched the investigation into the spate of extrajudicial killings early in Duterte’s term.

Duterte ordered the revocation of Trillanes’ amnesty, citing the senator’s supposed failure to submit an application and to admit guilt. Rappler documents, however, showed Trillanes did both.

The Department of Justice filed a “very urgent” motion for an alias arrest warrant. The Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148  did not immediately issue a warrant and gave Trillanes 5 days to comment on the DOJ motion.

Trillanes on Thursday has asked the Supreme Court to stop the “unconstitutional” order of Duterte. He also vowed to run after the people persecuting him. – Rappler.com

Follow the developments here:

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