Trillanes ends participation in court trial
03/06/2008 | 12:14 PM
MANILA, Philippines - Detained Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday told a Makati court that he was ending his participation in his trial over the 2003 Oakwood mutiny.
In a statement, Trillanes dared President Arroyo and her government to "do their worst," adding her administration has lost all moral authority to render any judgment over him and his companions.
"Today, I refuse to participate any further in this travesty of justice, just as the GMA administration has lost all moral authority to render any judgment over me and my companions. Do your worst, for we have already been acquitted by the people," he said in his statement.
Copies of the statement were distributed to media covering the trial, and also posted on his website.
Trillanes was supposed to testify as a defense witness Thursday in connection with his coup d'etat case at the Makati RTC, but he decided to forego his testimony "after much reflection."
Trillanes noted that after they surrendered in July 2003, no person was harmed and no property was damaged, and not a single shot was fired.
Yet, after five years in detention, he said that they still stand accused of committing a crime "that could have us incarcerated for life."
"Is this just? No. Did I ever regret my actions? No," he said.
On the other hand, he said government prosecutors have allowed themselves to be "used as instruments" to further this injustice even as judge Oscar Pimentel "may yet be pressured into convicting us."
He also quoted Henry David Thoreau's essay on civil disobedience, where "under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison." - GMANews.TV
In a statement, Trillanes dared President Arroyo and her government to "do their worst," adding her administration has lost all moral authority to render any judgment over him and his companions.
"Today, I refuse to participate any further in this travesty of justice, just as the GMA administration has lost all moral authority to render any judgment over me and my companions. Do your worst, for we have already been acquitted by the people," he said in his statement.
Copies of the statement were distributed to media covering the trial, and also posted on his website.
Trillanes was supposed to testify as a defense witness Thursday in connection with his coup d'etat case at the Makati RTC, but he decided to forego his testimony "after much reflection."
Trillanes noted that after they surrendered in July 2003, no person was harmed and no property was damaged, and not a single shot was fired.
Yet, after five years in detention, he said that they still stand accused of committing a crime "that could have us incarcerated for life."
"Is this just? No. Did I ever regret my actions? No," he said.
On the other hand, he said government prosecutors have allowed themselves to be "used as instruments" to further this injustice even as judge Oscar Pimentel "may yet be pressured into convicting us."
He also quoted Henry David Thoreau's essay on civil disobedience, where "under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison." - GMANews.TV
