MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) –  From one opposition figure to another.

Ousted chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno visited Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in his office on Wednesday, September 12.

Sereno, with her staff, had lunch with the senator and his team, including counsel Rey Robles and Eugene Gonzales of the Magdalo group.  

Sereno refused to divulge the details of their meeting, only saying she has long promised that conversation with the senator.

Trillanes said Sereno gave him legal advice, including on the “inner workings” of the Supreme Court.

“May meeting of the minds at maganda it was a very positive aura.. nagbigay sya sakin ng ilang legal advice along with my lawyer, tty robled. We took it to heart dahil ibang perspective yung pinanggagalingan nya coming from magistrate, malaking bagay yun… More on the inner workings of the Supreme Court,” Trillanes told reporters after the meeting.

Sereno was ousted in May, via a quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.

It was also Calida who launched a review of the amnesty granted to Trillanes in 2011, which led to President Rodrigo Duterte’s revocation of the amnesty grant.

Both Sereno and Trillanes, associated with former president Benigno Aquino III, are critics of Duterte and his policies.  

Sereno paid Trillanes a visit a day after the Supreme Court denied Trillanes’ motion for a temporary restraining order. But the senator said he was “grateful” that the SC recognized his rights. 

Opposition meeting

After visiting Trillanes, Sereno went to the offices of opposition senators Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, and Leila de Lima.

Asked how the meeting went, Pangilinan said Sereno had many suggestions for the opposition in 2019.

“Marami siyang suhestiyon sa mga grupo o organisasyon para magkaroon ng mas malalim na sabihin na nating kampanya para ma-address ‘yung mga pagsubok or mga hamon sa ngayon,” Pangilinan told reporters.

(She has many suggestions for the group so we would have a deeper campaign to address the challenges we face now.)

Pangilinan said Sereno was still unsure of her political plans and would want to talk with Vice President Leni Robredo first.

“Ang sabi niya, gusto rin niyang makausap si Vice President dito sa usapin na ito at sa usapin nga ng eleksyon (She said she would like to talk to the Vice Prsident regarding this and regarding the elections). So we will just have to wait for that meeting for that meeting between her and the vice president,” he added.

Sereno is among the 18 possible names to be included in the opposition slate in 2019 but she has yet to confirm her political plans. – Rappler.com

Follow the developments here: 

• SC denial of TRO still a ‘victory’ for Trillanes, says Magdalo
• ‘No need’ to add Duterte’s Gazmin theory to Trillanes amnesty order
• Duterte outburst at military was sign of ‘confidence’ – Roque
• Sereno tells Duterte: ‘Ipinahamak mo ang AFP’
• Aquino, 5 other presidents delegated amnesty review to committees
• Faeldon backs Duterte on amnesty: ‘I am willing to go to jail again’ 

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
• [WRAP | Day 4] Trillanes stays in Senate, Duterte changes tune on warrantless arrest
• [WRAP | Day 5] Family stands by Trillanes as Duterte slams senator
• [WRAP | Day 6] AFP chief Galvez, Honasan push for rule of law in Trillanes case
• [WRAP | DAY 7] No arrest warrant issued against Trillanes
• [WRAP | DAY 8] SC denies Trillanes TRO request, insists no warrantless arrest