PIA Dispatch - Monday, July 19, 2010

Palace denies interfering in Trillanes case

President Benigno S. Aquino III today categorically denied allegations that he was interfering in the court case involving alleged coup d’ etat leader Senator Antonio Trillanes III.

“No,” was the President’s emphatic reply when asked by media in Malacanang if he was interfering in the Trillanes case pending before the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC). 

“Senator Trillanes is not the only one who is in the similar situation. Ang sinasabi ko lang po dito, and I am inviting those concerned, to have a review of the Revised Penal Code because it seems that the fiscal that evaluated the case would not have forwarded the charge proper kasi nga the elements necessary to constitute the crime were not existing in the Oakwood case.”

The President said that the request for the review of the case was for the DOJ to come up with an opinion. But he said it would be up to the discretion of the court to act on the petition for review.

The President said that “we did not even forward an opinion as to what should be done because we left it to up to the wisdom of the court.”

Earlier today, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the remarks of President Aquino on the Trillanes criminal case cannot in any way be considered a form of interference in judicial process.

Lacierda clarified that the essence of what the President was saying at length on the Trillanes case was that he (the President) was leaving the case to full discretion of the court.

According to Lacierda the last word and opinion of President Aquino was “to leave the case to the wisdom of the court, based on the evidences that have been gathered.”

Lacierda added it was very prudent of the President not to intrude into the court case.

“The independence of the judiciary will be maintained, we are saying this to the judiciary, to (RTC) Judge Pimentel, that we respect your independence,” added Lacierda.

Lacierda recalled that the statement of the President was for the Secretary of Justice to look into the status of the case. The Department of Justice is under the Executive Department. 

He said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima will soon brief the President on the status of the case.

Lacierda also dismissed as totally irrelevant insinuations that the President’s comments were for the purpose of making leverage for the Liberal Party in the coming selection of the Senate President. He said Senator Trillanes has on his own posted bail in the hopes he will be released.

The detained Senator, a former Navy lieutenant, filed a petition before the sala of Makati RTC Judge Oscar Pimentel, who is handling the case, to be allowed to attend the opening of the Senate’s regular session on July 26 and meet his staff at the Senate on the same date.

The coup d’etat case against Trillanes and the other junior officers of the military belonging to the Magdalo group stemmed from their takeover of the Oakwood Premiere Hotel in July, 2003.


Gov't studying foreign, local offers to solve water shortage

President Benigno S. Aquino III today said concerned government agencies are currently evaluating proposals from local and foreign investors interested in the local water supply sector with an eye on possible solutions to the recurrent supply shortage.

“There are several proposals from local and foreign investors who are willing to answer the water needs of all sectors but we are still awaiting the recommendations of the different agencies,” the President told members of the Malacanang Press Corps after administering the oath of office to some undersecretaries and other executives of agencies under the Department of Transportation and Communications DOTC, as well as the new set of officers of the League of Cities of the Philippines at the Palace’s Rizal Hall.

The Chief Executive also said that pertinent regulatory bodies were also looking into the water situation in the country, notably in Metro Manila, amid reports that the water level of Angat Dam has been below critical levels.

Angat Dam’s water level reportedly continued to decline in the aftermath of the El Nino weather phenomenon, hitting 157.59 meters on Sunday—way below its operational level of 180 meters, The reservoir provides 97 percent of Metro Manila’s water requirement.

Maynilad Water Services, one of two utility firms supplying water to the metropolis, said in an advisory that it will be compelled to cut its supply this month by 30 percent.