Trillanes takes oath amid tight military security

(Updated 11:45 a.m.) With security personnel keeping close watch, former Navy Lieutenant Senior Grade Antonio Trillanes IV on Friday morning took his oath as senator before a village chief in Caloocan City. Sporting a dark blue barong, Trillanes was escorted by military guards from his detention area at the Philippine Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. He left the military facility at about 9 a.m. He was sworn in at around 11:05 a.m. by Barangay (village) 169 chairman Ruben Gatchalian at the covered court of BF Homes, Phase 1, Deparo, Caloocan, where he cast his vote in the May 14 elections. Senator Rodolfo Biazon, former Caloocan mayor Rey Malonzo, former Caloocan Rep. Luis "Baby" Asistio as well as former Quezon City mayor Jun Simon were in attendance. Malonzo is an ally of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Judge Oscar Pimentel of the Makati regional trial court-Branch 148 on Thursday allowed Trillanes' oath taking in Caloocan after government prosecutors posed no objection to it. Trillanes is facing coup d' etat charges before the Pimentel's sala and is also undergoing court martial proceedings over the July 27, 2003 Oakwood mutiny. Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr had earlier asked Pimentel to clarify the custody of Trillanes after the former military officer's successful venture into politics. The Trillanes camp had also filed an omnibus motion seeking leave of detention to attend all Senate functions including the regular and the plenary sessions, committee hearings, committee meetings, consultations, investigations and hearings in aid of legislation and caucuses. Trillanes also sought to get his own work area equipped with the appropriate communications equipment, inside his cell. He likewise asked to court to extend his media access, saying he wants to be allowed to receive reporters and other members of the media in his detention cell on Tuesdays and Fridays. Although he launched his senatorial campaign behind bars, Trillanes gained the Senate seat with more than 11 million votes. - GMANews.TV