Antonio Trillanes IV - Manila Peninsula Incident - Aftermath

Aftermath

Trillanes and Lim were placed under maximum security in Camp Crame. Anti-Arroyo rallyists marched towards Liwasang Bonifacio. Julio Labayen, bishop-prelate emeritus of Infanta, was transferred from detention in Camp Crame to the custody of the current Infanta bishop-prelate, Rolando Tria Tirona, and/or the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). Manila Pen '50' or the personalities arrested were transferred from the Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan to the maximum detention cell in Camp Crame, while 11 ABS-CBN personnel were released after processing. 450 people were arrested in Metro Manila due to the curfew enforced in the metropolis and in Regions III and IV.

Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias, Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez Jr. and Infanta, Quezon Bishop Emeritus Julio Labayen, all of Kilusang Makabansang Ekonomiya (KME) – lead a prayer rally at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Bonifacio Day, and asked Mrs. Arroyo to step down for "lack of moral ascendancy to lead the nation." Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) held its rally at nearby Bonifacio Shrine in Lawton led by former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, Jr.. As of 1:30 pm, some 5,000 members of militant groups gathered at España Avenue to march towards Liwasang Bonifacio. At 11 am, "reserve force" / troops with 10 6 × 6 military trucks came from Fort Magsaysay in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija and passed along EDSA towards Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. Some personalities / detainees arrested, accused the police of "maltreating" them during their detention in Camp Bagong Diwa. Lawyer Argee Guevarra stated that retired bishop Julio Labayen was "treated like a common criminal," handcuffed and fingerprinted during detention: "Bishop Labayen was never imprisoned during Martial Law. But under the rule of Arroyo and Pidal, no less than a bishop was arrested and detained." Australia and the UK cautioned nationals in Manila. The Manila Peninsula Hotel re-opened on December 3, after assessment of damages.

On December 1, 2007, the Philippine National Police (PNP) formed a team to re-arrest Nicanor Faeldon, while former University of the Philippines president Francisco Nemenzo was freed to the custody of Akbayan Rep. Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros as inquest proceedings continued against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and 49 others at the Camp Crame Multipurpose Hall who were accused of Rebellion. DOJ Undersecretary Fidel Esconde, state prosecutors Aristotle Reyes, Philip dela Cruz and Alvin Navarro were part of the inquest panel. Inquest proceedings ended at 1:00 am, and Senior State Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco said the resolution will be released on December 3: "Until we issue a resolution, those arrested will stay in detention or under the police custody; We will make a resolution as soon as possible. We also do not want to prolong the agony of the complaint respondents.” Velasco, also stated on Peninsula 50: "We are working fast to avoid prolonging the agony of the respondents. We want to see to it that if they are innocent, they can be released immediately. If they are liable, we want to assure them this is just work and there is nothing personal. There was no media personality charged. And from what I have observed so far, media did not do anything wrong during the standoff." The Central Command (CENTCOM) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines remained under red alert as CENTCOM chief Maj. Gen. Victor Ibrado conducted a loyalty check among his personnel. Francisco Nemenzo Jr. confirmed that a police general hit Senator Antonio Trillanes IV: “My civilian companions and I were not hurt. I didn’t hear any report that the civilians were hurt. But the soldiers were roughed up, especially Senator Trillanes]. I saw that a police general punched Trillanes, and then his handcuff was tightened. It appeared that they wanted to humiliate him, they dragged him by holding his belt." Meanwhile, opposition senators blocked a resolution of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago to expel Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV from the Senate of the Philippines. Also, Philippine National Police chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. affirmed that it will counter media networks (ABS-CBN) suits against the PNP who also denied an allegation of a lawyer of junior officers that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and their companions were manhandled at a police camp. Teofisto Guingona, Jr. returned to Crame to visit detained daughter, and actress-writer Bibeth Orteza was released from Camp Crame. The Bishops’ rally fizzled out, while elsewhere, loyal troops choked off support for Trillanes. 602 curfew violators were held in Central Luzon, while 479 were arrested in Calabarzon during curfew. Further, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's luncheon with Pampanga journalists was cancelled but she kept her Europe itinerary despite ouster attempt.

Avelino Razon Jr, chief of the PNP and the Armed Forces stated that Makati police, 32 personalities and government employee were probed for siege involvement, and also announced set talks with media / the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) on December 5:"We're going to have a talk with the AFP and KBP to discuss the problem so what happened will not be repeated."

On December 3, 2007, Antonio Trillanes IV asked Miriam Defensor Santiago to reconsider her expulsion Senate Resolution 228 (citing Rule 34, Sec. 97 of the Senate Rules / Art. II, Sec. 3 of the 1987 Constitution). But Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. stated: "Kailangan 2/3 or 16 votes papunta sa explusion (You need 2/3 or 16 votes for expulsion)." The Department of Justice (DOJ), 10-page resolution, filed Rebellion charges against Teofisto Guingona, Jr., Bishop Emeritus Julio Labayen, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, "running" priest Robert Reyes and 31 other individuals. It also issued a hold departure order against the 36 individuals, while 15 others released underwent preliminary investigation. Thus, the Senate of the Philippines held caucus on the arrests of media men, curfew and expulsion resolution, as Manuel Roxas II filed resolution for inquiry on the treatment of journalists. The Peninsula Manila declared itself "fully operational" at noon. Sanlakas militants stormed the PNP headquarters, Quezon City (10:30 am in front of the Camp Crame main gate along EDSA) to call for the release from detention of their leaders. The Armed Forces National Capital Region Command (NCRCom), fact finding board, uncovered lapses by 100 soldiers but no Mutiny by Magdalo (mutineers) guards. Natividad Reyes / the family of activist priest Robert Reyes appealed to Gaudencio Rosales. With situation ‘normalized,’ Hermogenes Esperon left for Malaysia. 14 arrested civilians were released by the Philippine National Police from the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame past 7 pm: businessman Herman Tiu Laurel, Stella Guingona, daughter of former vice-president Teofisto Guingona, El Cid Fajardo, Leonido Toledo, Evangeline Mendoza, Jose Albert, Eduardo Castro, Ferdinand Sandoval, Julie Ancheta, Maamor Lanto, Romeo Dacles, Ryan Custodio, Edgardo Viania and Ray Linaac.

On December 6, 2007, the Rebellion and inciting to rebellion case were raffled to high-profile Judge Elmo Alameda of Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150. He handled the rebellion case against the "Batasan 6," lawmakers, and the murder case against former Batangas governor Jose Antonio Leviste. DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno stated that defiant media can be arrested again, while Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. and Sen. Panfilo Lacson visited Antonio Trillanes IV to check on his living conditions. Pimentel told Trillanes to ‘Stay out of trouble.’ The NBI asked The Peninsula Manila for Nov 29 CCTV footages. ABS-CBN news executives assailed government officials for the arrest and cuffing of members of the media, in the Hotel dialogue. DOJ deferred motion to transfer Trillanes, Lim to New Bilibid Prisons, as Muntinlupa Representative Rozzano Rufino Biazon, an administration ally, and Deputy Minority Leader Roilo Golez opposed: “The Bilibid is an institution of convicts and Trillanes et al. are not convicts. Their detention in NBP will be irregular. It seems to be punishment while still undergoing trial.” Bishop Emeritus Julio Labayen of Infanta, Quezon, returned to Quezon province (Infanta with Bishop Rolando Tirona).

In a 48-page comment filed November 28, Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera blocked Trillanes’s plea for Senate attendance. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stated that the government would show no mercy to Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and the rebel soldiers and civilians. “You saw it on television. It’s clear that the actions of these few desperate men reveal just how out of touch they are with the hopes and dreams of the average Filipino.”

On December 13, 2007, the Makati court dismissed Rebellion cases against Teofisto Guingona, Jr., Fr. Robert Reyes, Bishop Emeritus Julio Labayen, Francisco Nemenzo, Elizabeth Orteza, lawyers JV Bautista and Argee Guevarra and other civilians. Journalists (Malaya columnist Ellen Tordesillas, NHK reporter Charmaine Deosgracias and Maria Ressa of ABS-CBN) recounted their ordeals during the Manila siege at the Senate hearing on media arrest. Recently, 6 unidentified soldiers were probed over the siege and Antonio Trillanes also filed a manifestation apologizing to Makati Regional Trial Court Judge Oscar Pimentel, from whose courtroom the walkout began. The apology however, as Sen. Trillanes pointed out, was not directed at Mrs. Arroyo.

On December 28, 2007, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and 16 accused by counsel Ernesto Francisco, in the November 29 Makati Rebellion, moved for partial reconsideration of the probable cause Order dated December 13, 2007, and to dismiss the case pending at the sala of Judge Elmo Alameda, Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 50.

The Supreme Court of the Philippines, on June 27, 2008, per ponente Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales in a 16-page decision unanimously dismissed Trillanes' petition "to be allowed to attend Senate sessions, other plenary or committee hearings, to give interviews to air his comments to the press, to attend to his official functions and duties and to receive members of his staff at the Marine brig in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig." Morales ruled: "All prisoners whether under preventive detention or serving final sentence cannot practice their profession nor engage in any business or occupation, or hold office, elective or appointive, while in detention; the fact that he is on trial for a non-bailable offense makes his rights more limited than those of the public; the 'Manila Pen Incident,' proves that petitioner's argument bites the dust. The risk that he would escape ceased to be neither remote nor nil, as in fact, the cause for foreboding became real; election, or more precisely, reelection to office does not obliterate a criminal charge; The Petitioner's electoral victory only signifies pertinently that when the voters elected him to the Senate, they did so with full awareness of the limitations on his freedom of action and with the knowledge that he could only achieve such legislative results which he could accomplish within the confines of prison."