Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has accused the Senate leadership, under newly installed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, of creating a so-called constitutional crisis. This statement follows the chamber's move to grant protective custody to Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa to prevent the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) from arresting him based on a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Trillanes Calls for Temporary Leadership Change
Trillanes expressed hope that the change in leadership would only be temporary and that it would be immediately replaced to restore what he calls the "sanity and dignity" of the institution. He emphasized that the Senate resolution requiring a local court warrant before recognizing an arrest order from a foreign tribunal has no legal force.
Resolution Symbolic, Not Binding
According to Trillanes, the resolution is merely a symbol of the lawmakers' sentiment and cannot override existing laws. He noted that Republic Act No. 9851, which penalizes crimes against humanity, could serve as a basis for the impending arrest of Dela Rosa. Trillanes also cited a Supreme Court ruling that recognizes the ICC's jurisdiction over the Philippines.
The former senator stressed that the Senate's action undermines the rule of law and sets a dangerous precedent. He urged the public to remain vigilant and to hold their elected officials accountable for upholding the Constitution.
