Enrile to negotiate with judge in Trillanes case

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said on Monday he will personally ask the judge handling the case of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to allow the detained lawmaker to perform his duties in the chamber. "I'm trying to make an appointment with the judge and discuss it with him without intruding into the domain of the judicial process," Enrile told reporters in an interview on Monday. Trillanes is facing coup d’etat charges before the sala of Judge Oscar Pimentel of the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 148 for his alleged involvement in the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny. Trillanes is also facing rebellion charges before the the sala of Judge Elmo Alameda of the Makati RTC branch 150 for his supposed participation in the 2007 Manila Peninsula hotel siege. The Senate had earlier asked the Makati branch 148 to allow the senator's temporary transfer from the Philippine Custodial Center in Camp Crame in Quezon City to the Office of the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms. Last week, the Senate likewise adopted a resolution asking President Benigno Aquino III to grant amnesty to soldiers, including Trillanes, who were charged for the failed uprisings against the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. However, the Makati RTC branch 158 had earlier denied Trillanes' motion to attend the opening of the Senate session, citing a Supreme Court ruling which had earlier denied him from performing his duties as senator. Enrile said he will leave it up to the judge to determine the merits of his request. "If he says no, I will respect him. But if he says yes we can do it, I will advise the lawyers of Senator Trillanes to file the appropriate motion and let the court issue the order without any interference or influence from us," he said. Enrile added that should the court allow Trillanes perform his duties as a lawmaker, the courts can decide the manner by which senator will conduct himself in the Senate. "The whole situation is in the hands of the courts (but this is just) an effort on our part to find a practical way to make these people elected by the Filipino people to represent them to work," he said. Enrile added that the move was also in recognition of the "immobilized" decision capability of the Senate. "Normally we operate on the basis of majority rule unless the Constitution says otherwise," he said. There are 24 senatorial slots, one of which was vacated by President Benigno Aquino III. On the other hand, two senators - Trillanes and fugitive Senator Panfilo Lacson - could not exercise their voting powers due to their physical absence. - VVP, GMANews.TV