Cruz, Tricia Mae September 18, 2018

BA Political Science IA Fundamentals of Political Science

Position Paper About

The Amnesty and The Revocation of Trillanes’ Amnesty
Trillanes is an active member of Magdalo who is known as an opposition of the present

administration. And as per the recent issue that is breaking right know is the revocation of the amnesty

given to Trillanes and his colleagues by the former president Aquino. Aquino stated that the amnesty that

Trillanes had received is not void it is valid and irrevocable. And according to Rep. Edgar Lagman, based

on the Proclamation No. 75 dated No. 24, 2010 issued by Aquino and concurred with by Congress under

Concurrent Resolution No.4 dated Dec.13 and 14, 2010 “does not provide for any revocation clause.”

Furthermore, if we go back with this amnesty, this was given to them because they rebelled against

the administration of the former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. And as the administration changed-

the administration of Aquino, they grant these former soldiers to allow them to start a new life. Since it was

already stated that amnesty obliterates past offenses which is already final, absolute and irrevocable. And

they already enjoyed it for how many years.

But the question is , “Is this a major problem that our country is facing?” That even our president

is putting much of his time and attention with this were in fact the amnesty is not questioned for the past

seven to eight years. Nonetheless, it is really questionable because Pres. Duterte just revoked it without any

legal and factual basis. And this already bore many issues and its getting more complicated because as

they’ve said, the revocation of the amnesty by PUD30 is just one of his strategy for revenge for those who

are opposing the administration and to put the critics in silent and to deflect the interest of the people with

regards to the failures of the present administration.

And on the other side of the coin, it is not that I am not in favor with the Duterte administration,

but I agree with what Leni Robredo has been said with regards to the immediate revocation of Duterte to

the amnesty granted to Trillanes and his colleagues that:

“As elected officials of the government, we have been entrusted with the power to find solutions and not to

advance personal interest. And we urge this administration to honor the amnesty given to Senator Trillanes

and to immediately stop wasting money on senseless quarrel and instead focus its attention on the needs of

the Filipino people.”

I agree with this because if you analyze it clearly, Duterte is already abusing his powers without

considering his people, the real problem. He just did the revocation because of some personal interests.

Because as far as I know, since the amnesty obligates past offenses, Senator Trillanes was already cleared

from al charges. And the requirements that the law is asking for the amnesty grantee is complied by Senator

Trillanes. And I am confused because both Aquino and Duterte stated that Trillanes can only be arrested

with legal process and with a warrant of arrest. So why is it that Duterte still needs to revoke the amnesty?

And even the court that dismissed the cases of Trillanes doesn’t want to issue warrant of arrest because they

considered the amnesty and the basis of Department of Justice.

So, the revocation of the amnesty shouldn’t be given much attention within the country by our

president. Because Trillanes is also a citizen of the country who has the right to enjoy the laws that is

protected by the Constitution. And if ever that Trillanes committed something that is against the law, it

should be done in a due process with a right way. With amnesty or not, what is right to be done should

always be the one that should be followed.