Duterte revocation of Trillanes amnesty unconstitutional - SC

The Supreme Court (SC) has voided an order issued by former president Rodrigo Duterte revoking the amnesty granted to former senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

- DAPHNE GALVEZ

The high tribunal said the revocation of Trillanes' amnesty was unconstitutional as it was not concurred in by Congress.

Trillanes thanked the high court for upholding his amnesty from a rebellion case, which Duterte sought to revive.

He accused Duterte of abusing his powers and weaponizing the law against the opposition when he was president from 2016 to mid-2022.

"In his desire to silence and jail members of the opposition, Duterte and his men committed abuse of power and extreme stupidity," Trillanes said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

The SC public information office said that in an en banc session on Wednesday, the magistrates ruled that a president could not revoke a grant of amnesty without concurrence from Congress.

The high court said Proclamation 527, issued by Duterte, violated Trillanes' constitutional right to due process, noting the revocation order was issued long after the former senator's amnesty had become final.