Arrest Trillanes

THE Quezon City metropolitan trial court on Friday ordered the arrest of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV and several others for conspiracy to commit sedition in connection with the “Ang Tutoong Narcolist” viral videos, which implicated President Duterte and some of his family members in the illegal drugs trade.

Branch 138 set the bail bond at P10,000. In a statement, Trillanes, who is out of the country, said he would post bail next week.

Recently, the Department of Justice indicted former Trillanes IV and some 10 others over the viral videos after finding probable cause to charge them in connection with the complaints filed by the Philippine National Police.

Aside from Trillanes, also indicted were Joenel Peter Advincula alias Bikoy, Joel Saracho, Boom Enriquez, a certain @Monique, Yolanda V. Ong, Vicente Romano III, Fr. Albert E. Alejo, Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, Jonnel P. Sangalang, and Eduardo Acierto.

The panel of prosecutors explained that the following “interlocking pieces of proof” provide a “complete picture of the grand conspiracy between and among some respondents to create hatred or revenge against the President and his family with the end in view of toppling and destabilizing the current administration”:

1. The online publication of the Bikoy videos. The videos, divided into six (6) episodes, insinuated that members of the President’s family and political allies were receiving pay-offs from drug syndicates.  These videos, the Panel found, were made by respondents Advincula; Saracho (who acted as their narrator); Enriquez (videographer) and his assistant, @Monique; Ong and Romano (scriptwriters).  The Panel likewise found that Fr. Alejo prepared the JesCom where the videos were taken;

2. The press conference of respondent Advincula at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines where he, among others, admitted to being “Bikoy,” the supposed whistleblower featured in the videos;

3. The press statement of respondent Acierto on 25 March 2019 where he accused the President, his family and his close associates of supposed links to drugs and drug syndicates; and

4. Admissions made by respondents, especially the allegations of Advincula and certain admissions of former Senator Trillanes which bolster the “existence of a grand conspiracy between and among some respondents to commit the crime of sedition.”