
Philippines: PCOO Mocha Uson resignation letter to President Duterte (28.09.2018)










Judge Elmo Alameda ordered that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV didn’t have enough documentation and proof concerning his amnesty order of 7th September 2011. Where the judge has stated accused Trillanes haven’t a copy of the application of his guilt of the crimes committed for the amnesty and that he only relied on the certificate of the amnesty and his clearance of service from the AFP on the 28th August 2007.
When concerning Trillanes, the President has his executive rights to revoke any amnesty, but this court order from Alameda doesn’t focus on that, but the lack of guilt by the Senator. Which seems strange, as this has been a public case and the filings should be in some of the government institutions. Unless, they are suddenly hiding it or disappear.
Can we expect the same sort of treatment for the rest of the ones part of the rebellion of the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny or the Peninsula Manila Hotel Siege, which are registered at the same time? Or are they saved because they haven’t stirred the powerful President?
Because, it seems weird, that the admission of guilt, the application for amnesty, which the previous President accepted and ordered, which was certified suddenly is gone missing. Should everyone that was granted amnesty by Presidential Proclamation Nr. 75 dated 24 november 2010, as they were granted amnesty by January 5, 2011 by President Aquino. Who gave this order for a total of 19 Officers and 13 enlisted personnel. Trillanes was one of them and now in legal jeopardy, because of the President order and now Court Order of 25th September 2018.
To top this off, as they make his amnesty order of 2011, null and void because of “lack of documentation”. They are keeping him on bail and also ‘Hold Departure Order’, which doesn’t allow him to leave the Republic of exile. As he has the means to be a flight risk. This isn’t new, especially if someone is under fire like Trillanes.
However, this all is a mess and mess created by the President. Maybe to prove a point and show his capabilities as the President. Which he also did with De Lima. As his biggest critics are ending behind bars, as the administration are finding ways to arrest them and putting them there. Even if the President has the powers to revoke the amnesty, what happens to the rest who also was also granted amnesty? Will they loose it too?
This case will be prolonged as the finalization of it will continue. The Courts and the Orders will come, as well as the Department of Justice, which has also possibly release a motion on the resolution. Since Trillanes get nothing easy and only the hard way.
Trillanes shouldn’t give up, as the documentation should be revealed and show his application. The courts knows this and this document, as the certification and the authorities should know where they keep it. Therefore, the idea and the argument of non-existing documentation for the amnesty is a wasted one. As it should be there and the admission of guilt in the application should be there as well.
Therefore, if the President and the authorities has other reasons for revoking it, they should say it, as this is not a legit sense and only political warfare. With revenging the former army commander Trillanes. As they want the officer to be silenced and stop his campaigns against Duterte. That is how it looks like from the outside. Peace.

“And that question is: ”How old is 15, really?” No, that’s a good question. I’m not saying that a person is as smart as they’re gonna be at 15. That’s not what I’m saying, man. But I am saying, 15 to me… is old enough to decide… whether or not you want to be pissed on. That’s me. If you can’t make a decision like that by the time you’re 15… then just give up, motherfucker, because life is way harder than that” – Dave Chappelle from ‘For What it’s Worth’ (2004)
I know that Dave Chappelle isn’t a politician, but he is a comedian. But I had to start with him, as this here piece will be about age. Because suddenly now Senate President Sotto in the Philippines, wants to make the legal age for prosecution and able to answer for their crimes down to thirteen (13). As of today, it is already fifteen (15). Therefore, the legal age are already low and early to be able to serve time for possible crimes.
I want to ask the politician, if he could change the legal age for other things, as they should not only have possibility to fine, detain and prosecute the youth, but also other things. Because, why is it just the negative aspect and the positive aspect of life that is given to the thirteen year old. Since, if your opening the gates to make them liable, shouldn’t they be able to do more other things too, without concern of the state?
“MANILA — Alarmed by the rise in the number of crimes now being committed by minors, Senate President Vicente Sotto III is pushing for the lowering of the age of criminal responsibility to 13 years old. In filing Senate Bill 2026, Sotto noted that criminal syndicates are exploiting the provisions of Republic Act 9344 of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 by using minors in the commission of crimes” (…) “In his explanatory note for Senate Bill 2026, Sotto said, “Due to the continuing challenge in the implementation of RA 9344, as amended, the aforesaid law must be further amended to lower the minimum age of criminal liability in order to adapt to the changing times.” “This bill will finally give clarity to the true intention of the law. The amendment to the law will institutionalize the criminal liability of teenagers who committed serious criminal offense,” Sotto said. He added that not only was the law abused by criminals but the innocence of these youngsters were deliberately taken from them” (Philippines News Agency – ‘ Sotto wants to lower age of criminal liability to 13’ 25.09.2018 link: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1049043).
With this Senate President Sotto, shouldn’t they be allowed to run for any public office in an election? Why cannot even a thirteen year old vote in the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections? In the recent election the youngest ones to vote in the SK in 2018 was 15 years old. Therefore, they cannot elect anyone or be eligible to get public office. But behind bars is fine and dandy. They have to wait to be 18 to be a candidate for Municipal Councilor, 21 years to be a candidate either for ARMM Regional Assemblyman or Mayor/Vice Mayor of City. To get into House of Representatives, you have to be 25 years old or in the Senate being 35 years old. If you considering to run for the two highest offices you have to be 40 years old, this being Vice-President and President. Therefore, the youths of age thirteen can be criminal liable, but cannot ever consider to run for office, not even in their local SK Election.
That is why Sotto, should consider his approach, as he can criminalize these youths, but they have no initial power. While it coming to work, the DOLE Guidelines of 1st January 2018 of work for minors states: “Under Republic Act No. 9231, children below the age of 15 are not allowed to be employed in any public or private establishment except when they work directly under the sole responsibility of their parents or guardian or when their participation in public entertainment or public information is essential. In any of the exceptions, the employer, parent or guardian should first secure working child permit from DOLE before engaging the services of the child” (Philippines Information Agency – ‘DOLE issues new guidelines on employment of minors in public entertainment’ 09.11.2017 link: https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1001624).
The DOLE has such strict rules about a minor, which is a thirteen years old individual, as they cannot work without guardians approval or the DOLE too as well. Therefore, when they need this to work together with parents or their approval for work, why can the same individual be criminal liable? Shouldn’t it be automatic to be working too?
So, we have quickly figured out they cannot vote, not be eligible to elected or work unless DOLE gives them permit. Should they still be able to become outlaws and get a criminal record? Really?
Just to put it further to prove the dire need to question it, is that a person between 18 to 21 needs consent of marriage from either father, mother or legal guardian to be allowed to married in the Philippines. So a person, cannot without consent of their parents get married, but they can get legal ramifications for their actions? Have Sotto even thought of all of this?
That is why I am writing this, because it is natural as a youth, a teen starting life, not fully matured or even considering of the implications of your acts. Shouldn’t be able to do all adulting first, before you get cost of being grown. However, the Senate President thinks otherwise.
Therefore, Mr. Sotto, should you allow them to work, married or even be eligible to get elected into office? Since you propose them to be criminal liable. If they can get punished by the state, shouldn’t they get all the opportunities of the state as well. Peace.

“My people are going to learn the principles of democracy the dictates of truth and the teachings of science. Superstition must go. Let them worship as they will, every man can follow his own conscience provided it does not interfere with sane reason or bid him act against the liberty of his fellow men.” – Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
The incumbent President Abdulla Yameen have really shown his true colour as he took power in the Maldives. He used the military to evict and control the courts and also the Supreme Court. He used all methods to get people to under siege and under his wings. If didn’t follow that, you better seek refugee or even go into exile. Like so many opposition figures and families did in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Now, after yesterdays poll and today’s announced results, the drive and oppressive behaviour might stop.
“Maldivian Democratic Party candidate MP Hon Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, wins the Maldives Presidential Elections, with 134,616 votes. Of 262,135 eligible voters, 233,877 voters cast their votes at the 472 ballot boxes. This is a voter turnout of 89.22 percent” (Maldives MFA, 24.09.2018).
This is positive, hopefully the ones who has fled to safety and out of danger. Can return and start over, instead of living and awaiting, as the new presidency arrives and hopefully secure the future. People are today celebrating that the Coup of 7th February 2012 has been answered, as the leadership of that time, was sent into exile, this being Mohamed Nasheed (Maldivian Democratic Party)and Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik (Gaumee Ithihaad Party). This is redemption, as they hope that the Joint Presidential Candidate Solih, can establish normalcy after the years of harsh control from Yameen and his party Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).
Therefore, today is for some the end of the coup d’état and a fresh beginning after 2421 days of waiting for a democratic elected leadership not evolving around the big-man and paranoia of Yameen.
Today, I live in hope for the Maldives, after plenty of dark days, oppression from the state and state aggression against their leaders and their principals. Today, we can hope for a better tomorrow. As the people have someone who represent them and hopefully will restore normalcy. Will ensure the National Assembly, the Supreme Court and the true justice. Not just to his peers and his allies, but to all Maldivians.
Some says it is a power shift from Beijing to New Delhi, whatever it is, it is hope, because the public has shown the courage and the will to overthrow someone who ruled without concern of anyone else than himself. That has to be remembered, that have to be the key thing out of this today.
There are reports of MPs and other political prisoners release at the Criminal Courts in Male, today, however, that is yet to be verified right now. But there is a bunch of innocent people behind bars, because of need of being there, as the previous President needed them there. To keep a grip of power and try to centralize it more. Peace.









“Well, there are things that one must do as a public servant and this is not the first time that I went up against a sitting president, a sitting vice president and a very powerful senate president. So, I believe I’m just being consistent regardless of the dangers that I could probably face” – Antonio F. Trillanes IV (Transcript BBC Interview of Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV, 27.06.2017).
Senator Antonio Trillanes has worked tirelessly against President Rodrigo Duterte, the President revoked the Amnesty, which was agreed on 31st January 2011 and that was made “null and void” on the 31st August 2018. This is happening as Trillianes has worked steadily since May 2016 to look into the economy of the Duterte family.
He has gone after Paolo Duterte and also Sara Duterte. Not only the offshore accounts of the President Duterte. He has pushed for impeachment of the President. On the President’s undeclared wealth, charged him with corruption, wanted the Ombudsman to probe the Presidents wealth, asking the Senate to probe Duterte’s Wealth and also filled a Plunder Complaint against the President. All of this he has pushed from May 2016 until February 2018.
Clearly, the openness is needed for any public official, that Trillanes has fought for that is natural. Duterte have really triggered him, what is special about the senator is that he is from the marine and persistence. He knows the value of information and dropping confidential documents, as he did with the Greenbase Expose. That shown the plans of misusing the terrorist threats in Mindanao for oil exploration there in 2003.
Therefore, the revelation of making the amnesty null and void is showing that Duterte is retaliating. He is pushing someone back to be cornered. Trillanes has already been behind bars for seven years before becoming Senator. That is why this is not something foreign to him.
As a former marine and prisoner might explain even more, why he is so persistence and orientated on keeping Duterte on guard. At the same time, the tireless campaign against him, has possibly backfired as Duterte now used his powers to null and void his amensty. This means Trillanes is in legal limbo awaiting possible trial for the mutiny and other charges of the past.
This story is clearly not over, as the amnesty move by the President will start a legal case. Also, put the Senator more under fire than he has been of late. Trillanes cannot attack Duterte as much, since this is trying to detain him like Leila De Lima. So, he will be yet another critical senator that Duterte dismissed with power.
We can just wonder how this one will go, but Trillanes will really feel it now, as Duterte has the position to do so and he is not. The revoked amnesty is a pickle, who knows, but we all know this a political hit-job. Peace.