(Updated) Zubiri urged to act on pro-Trillanes reso

An international organization of lawmakers on Monday urged Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri to act on a resolution seeking to allow detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to participate in sessions and other legislative functions through remote or electronic means. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in a letter to Zubiri, lamented that failure to implement Senate Resolution 3 prevents Trillanes, a former Navy officer, from exercising his mandate and deprives his electorate of his representation. “The Philippines is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which enshrines fair trial guarantees and that, as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, it has pledged to uphold the highest standards of human rights," the IPU said. The resolution was filed in July 23, 2007 and adopted two days later. At least 15 of the 23 senators had signed it. Zubiri, chairman of the committee on rules where the resolution was referred, should have recommended by now amendments to the chamber’s rules in order for the resolution to be implemented, the IPU said. The IPU, established in 1889, is the international organization of Parliaments. It is the focal point for world-wide parliamentary dialogue and works for peace and co-operation among peoples and for the firm establishment of representative democracy. In response, Zubiri said the rules committee has already drafted a proposed resolution on the matter. He said he would report it out on the floor soon for deliberation. Zubiri said under the proposed draft resolution, Trillanes will be allowed through electronic means to participate in committee activities or hearings, but his participation will be limited only to interaction with the senators and resource persons. He will also remain banned from plenary sessions. “Under the 1987 Constitution, Senate Rules and the rules of most parliaments around the world, the presence of the legislator is needed in voting and in the establishment of a quorum. Therefore, if the senator is not present in plenary, he cannot participate in any parliamentary activity," Zubiri said. He added that the detained senator’s participation is subject to the authority granted by the court having jurisdiction to the case. “It is up to the judge to allow him to participate or not because he is under the jurisdiction of a separate branch of government. And, as a legally detained person, jurisdiction of his liberties is up to the judge handling his case. Any lawyer can tell you that," Zubiri said. The senator asked the IPU if there is a parliament anywhere around the world that allows legally detained members to participate in their sessions. Trillanes is currently detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame for leading two attempts to overthrow the Arroyo administration on two occassions, one on July 2003 and one on November 2007. The IPU expressed concern that Trillanes, who won a Senate seat in the 2007 polls, has been on trial and remains in detention for more than six years, a violation of his fundamental rights based on international jurisprudence. The detained senator's allegations of graft and corruption against the Armed Forces of the Philippines also merit further investigation, the IPU added. - KBK, GMANews.TV