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By James Konstantin Galvez, Reporter
A high-ranking administration official will stand as a “surprise
witness” for Senator Antonio Trillanes IV when he presents his
defense in the ongoing trial of the coup d’ etat case before the
Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC).
Trillanes’ counsel, Atty.
Reynaldo Robles, said that they might present the official as their
surprise witness, but discussions are still ongoing.
“This official is presently
holding a ‘very sensitive’ position in the government and is
privy to the details of the short-lived 2003 Oakwood mutiny. We
might present the official as our surprise witness. Discussions are
still ongoing at present,” said Robles.
Trillanes is scheduled to present
his own witnesses and evidence before the sala of Makati RTC branch
148 Judge Oscar Pimentel on November 8 and 15, as mandated by the
court and agreed upon by both parties during the hearing.
Robles said that the “surprise witness” would testify in favor
of Trillanes. “He would testify that there is really no offense of
coup d’ etat committed,” Robles informed the media.
”The accused have not committed
any of the qualifying factors as called for under the Revised Penal
Code, so there is really no offense committed,” he stressed.
Robles added that under the
Revised Penal Code (Article 134-A), there are qualifying factors,
namely that the “accused have attacked government or military
installations or any government offices and that there is force or
violence used” to warrant the filing of coup d’ etat.
Aside from the said official,
Robles said they might also call to the witness stand congressmen
and senators who authored and helped pass the Revised Penal Code
penalizing coup d’ etat.
Among the lawmakers that
Trillanes legal team is considering are former Senate President and
2007 Ramon Magsaysay awardee Jovito Salonga and former Senator and
human rights lawyer Rene Saguisag.
But Robles said the lawmaker’s
legal team is still deliberating if Trillanes himself will take the
witness stand.
”That has yet to be discussed,
if he will take the stand. It will depend on the proceedings of the
trial,” he said.
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