Subpoena for Trillanes issued over libel case

By VANNE ELAINE P. TERRAZOLA

SENATOR Antonio Trillanes IV said he will face the libel charges filed against him by former Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte and his brother-in-law Manases Carpio.

If needed, Trillanes said he will personally go to Davao City to re­spond to the complaint.

In a press briefing Tuesday, Tril­lanes said he received Monday the subpoena issued by the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office, asking him to submit his counter-affidavit on the li­bel complaints by Duterte and Carpio within 10 days.

The subpoena was issued by Pros­ecutor III Faizal Padate on Sept. 10.

“Mukhang pinapaspasan ‘yong li­bel case. Very obvious na naghahanap ng paraan to shake me down, to harass me. Pero haharapin po natin,” he said.

Although currently facing possible arrest from the invalidation of his amnesty, Trillanes said he might go to Davao City.

“Kung kailangan puntahan para maayos yan pupuntahan ko,” he said.

Trillanes, however, raised pos­sibility that the eldest son of President Duterte would attempt to influence Davao City judges to decide in their favor as he claimed that the judges are receiving “spe­cial allowances from the city gov­ernment.”

“Alam niyo yong mga judges dyan sa Davao City ay nakaka-receive ng special allowances from the city government. Iyong kap­atid ang mayor, so maliwanag na medyo makaka-impluwensya na ‘yon,” Trillanes told reporters.

Trillanes said he is considering to have the case transferred to the De­partment of Justice in Manila.

The case stemmed from an in­terview of Cebu-based radio sta­tion with Trillanes September last year. In the phonepatch in­terview, he alleged that Duterte and Carpio extorted from Uber and other ride-sharing compa­nies in Cebu City in conspiracy with Land Transportation Fran­chising and Regulatory Board Region 7.

He also claimed that the two extorted from the Road Board and Department of Public Works and Highways.

Duterte, in his complaint, called the allegations “false, baseless, unfounded,” saying they were based on “hearsay” information and a part of black propaganda against him and President Duterte.