MANILA, Philippines –  The Department of National Defense (DND) said on Friday, September 7, that it will wait for the Supreme Court (SC) decision on the petition filed by opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV against a presidential order to revoke his amnesty and for his immediate arrest.

The DND issued its statement on President Rodrigo Duterte’s Proclamation No. 572 3 days after the controversial order was published in the Manila Times.

“The Department of National Defense (DND) has received a report that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has filed a petition for Certiorari, Prohibition and Injunction with a prayer for the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order,” the DND said in a statement sent to reporters.

“The DND respects the judicial process and will defer to the decision of the court on the matter,” the DND added. (EXPLAINER: Why Trillanes chose to go to the Supreme Court)

Why does this matter? This means that the DND recognizes that Proclamation 572 could be challenged and that, pending any court decision, it cannot act unilaterally to arrest a civilian.

Under military law, military police can arrest those in service without a warrant. Trillanes, however, retired from the Navy in  2007, when he made a successful Senate bid. (READ: Esperon knows Trillanes quit military before amnesty)

What the DND is doing now: The DND, through the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), wants to place Trillanes under its custody, to be detained at the AFP Custodial Center in Camp Aguinaldo.

The AFP also issued a statement on Friday, saying it was still in the process of “constituting” a court martial to decide on Trillanes’ revived administrative cases: conduct unbecoming of an officer, and a general article offense which broadly covers any act discrediting the military service.

Top DND and AFP are currently abroad with President Duterte, and are due to be back in the country Saturday morning, September 9. – Rappler.com

Follow the developments here:

• Opposition calls for Senate crowd to prevent Trillanes arrest
• Little-known fact: AFP chief Galvez got amnesty for 1989 failed coup
• Rush for TRO: Trillanes speeds up Supreme Court proceedings
• Trillanes: Supreme Court TRO will give military a ‘way out’
• Duterte rules out warrantless arrest of Trillanes
• DOJ seeks Trillanes warrant in another court
• EXPLAINER: Why DOJ has two requests for Trillanes warrant
• No warrant vs Trillanes yet, Makati court says records kept in ‘bodega’
• Paolo Duterte, Mans Carpio file libel complaints vs Trillanes
• Sotto to minority senators: Don’t abuse Senate leadership’s ‘hospitality’
• AFP: We are united despite Trillanes amnesty issue 
• Justice Peralta in charge of Trillanes Supreme Court petition
• Esperon contradicts DND, says Trillanes no longer a soldier

Summaries: 

• [WRAP | Day 1] Duterte voiding Trillanes’ amnesty: Everything you need to know
• [WRAP | Day 2] Trillanes gets relief from court, DOJ seeks options
• [WRAP | Day 3] Looming Trillanes arrest jolts PH from sleep