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| Duterte critic arrested as 'darkness and evil' prevail in Philippines | Duterte critic arrested as 'darkness and evil' prevail in Philippines |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Rodrigo Duterte’s fiercest critic in the Philippines congress has been arrested after his amnesty for a failed coup attempt was revoked, the latest persecution of a figure who had voiced opposition to the president. | Rodrigo Duterte’s fiercest critic in the Philippines congress has been arrested after his amnesty for a failed coup attempt was revoked, the latest persecution of a figure who had voiced opposition to the president. |
| “Darkness and evil have prevailed in the country,” Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said before walking out of the Senate, where he has has been living in his office since 4 September when, in an unprecedented legal move, the rebellion charges against him were revived by Duterte. | “Darkness and evil have prevailed in the country,” Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said before walking out of the Senate, where he has has been living in his office since 4 September when, in an unprecedented legal move, the rebellion charges against him were revived by Duterte. |
| Trillanes was taken by police to their headquarters in Makati city, where his fingerprints and mugshot were taken. After being booked by police, he secured his temporary release by posting bail of 200,000 pisos (£2,800). | Trillanes was taken by police to their headquarters in Makati city, where his fingerprints and mugshot were taken. After being booked by police, he secured his temporary release by posting bail of 200,000 pisos (£2,800). |
| “Definitely our fight will continue,” he told reporters at the police headquarters, where he was accompanied by his lawyers and a number of allied senators. “Officially we do not have a democracy any more. This case goes beyond me. We can see that I do not have a criminal record any more because I was already granted amnesty seven years ago. This is a clear case of distortion by Duterte to his critics in politics.” | “Definitely our fight will continue,” he told reporters at the police headquarters, where he was accompanied by his lawyers and a number of allied senators. “Officially we do not have a democracy any more. This case goes beyond me. We can see that I do not have a criminal record any more because I was already granted amnesty seven years ago. This is a clear case of distortion by Duterte to his critics in politics.” |
| A second court hearing has now been set for 21 November, when the prosecution will present evidence against Trillanes. | A second court hearing has now been set for 21 November, when the prosecution will present evidence against Trillanes. |
| Duterte has been increasingly sensitive to criticism, especially over his brutal war on drugs, which has left thousands of mostly poor suspects dead since he took office in mid-2016. Trillanes has proved to be one of Duterte’s most vocal critics, accusing the president and his son of large-scale corruption and involvement in illegal drugs, which Duterte has denied. The senator also backed the preliminary investigation by the international criminal court into possible crimes against humanity being committed by Duterte in his war on drugs. | Duterte has been increasingly sensitive to criticism, especially over his brutal war on drugs, which has left thousands of mostly poor suspects dead since he took office in mid-2016. Trillanes has proved to be one of Duterte’s most vocal critics, accusing the president and his son of large-scale corruption and involvement in illegal drugs, which Duterte has denied. The senator also backed the preliminary investigation by the international criminal court into possible crimes against humanity being committed by Duterte in his war on drugs. |
| The arrest of Trillanes follows the incarceration last year of another vocal Duterte critic, Senator Leila de Lima, who is currently in jail on drugs charges she vigorously denies and which human rights organisations have accused of being trumped up. | The arrest of Trillanes follows the incarceration last year of another vocal Duterte critic, Senator Leila de Lima, who is currently in jail on drugs charges she vigorously denies and which human rights organisations have accused of being trumped up. |
| Duterte said he voided Trillanes’ amnesty last month because the senator had failed to file a formal request and admit involvement in at least three failed coup attempts. The offences against Trillanes were originally cancelled by a 2011 amnesty approved by Duterte’s predecessor, President Benigno Aquino, and Congress. | Duterte said he voided Trillanes’ amnesty last month because the senator had failed to file a formal request and admit involvement in at least three failed coup attempts. The offences against Trillanes were originally cancelled by a 2011 amnesty approved by Duterte’s predecessor, President Benigno Aquino, and Congress. |
| On Tuesday, the court that granted the Department of Justice’s request for a warrant to arrest Trillanes said it had found “factual and legal bases” for Duterte’s allegations that the senator had not complied with the legal requirements of the amnesty. | On Tuesday, the court that granted the Department of Justice’s request for a warrant to arrest Trillanes said it had found “factual and legal bases” for Duterte’s allegations that the senator had not complied with the legal requirements of the amnesty. |
| However, multiple Philippine lawmakers spoke out against the arrest. Senator Kiko Pangilinan described the order as “illegal and an abuse of presidential powers” and Rep Gary Alejano said: “This administration will do everything to silence Trillanes.” | However, multiple Philippine lawmakers spoke out against the arrest. Senator Kiko Pangilinan described the order as “illegal and an abuse of presidential powers” and Rep Gary Alejano said: “This administration will do everything to silence Trillanes.” |
| Trillanes has strongly denied the president’s claims and has provided news reports and defence department documents to counter them. | Trillanes has strongly denied the president’s claims and has provided news reports and defence department documents to counter them. |
| Aside from the rebellion and coup-related charges in the two courts, Duterte has ordered the military to resume an inquiry into the senator’s role in the mutinies. | Aside from the rebellion and coup-related charges in the two courts, Duterte has ordered the military to resume an inquiry into the senator’s role in the mutinies. |
| The people left behind by Philippines' brutal war on drugs - photo essay | The people left behind by Philippines' brutal war on drugs - photo essay |
| Carlos Conde, Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch, said: “The arrest today of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is part of the persecution of critics of the Duterte administration, the latest in the relentless campaign to silence those who dared to challenge the president’s murderous ‘drug war’. | Carlos Conde, Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch, said: “The arrest today of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is part of the persecution of critics of the Duterte administration, the latest in the relentless campaign to silence those who dared to challenge the president’s murderous ‘drug war’. |
| “Trillanes’s arrest today sends a chilling effect among other critics of the Duterte administration.” | “Trillanes’s arrest today sends a chilling effect among other critics of the Duterte administration.” |
| Duterte has also accused Trillanes, without offering evidence, of plotting with other opposition politicians, including the Liberal party and leftist groups, to oust him. Trillanes and opposition groups have dismissed the claim as a lie and asked him to focus instead on addressing poverty, inflation, rice shortages, traffic jams and a decline in the value of the piso. | Duterte has also accused Trillanes, without offering evidence, of plotting with other opposition politicians, including the Liberal party and leftist groups, to oust him. Trillanes and opposition groups have dismissed the claim as a lie and asked him to focus instead on addressing poverty, inflation, rice shortages, traffic jams and a decline in the value of the piso. |
| Associated Press contributed to this report | Associated Press contributed to this report |
| Philippines | Philippines |
| Rodrigo Duterte | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Asia Pacific | Asia Pacific |
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