Senator Antonio Trillanes IV talks to the media at his Senate office on Sept. 08, 2018. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA (2ND UPDATE) - Opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has been indicted for inciting to sedition over a speech where he allegedly urged soldiers to kill President Rodrigo Duterte.

Pasay City prosecutors, in a resolution dated Jan. 29, said they found probable cause to charge Trillanes over his remarks at the Senate last Sept. 5, 2018.

The case was filed before the Pasay City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 44 last Feb. 11.

Lawyer Reynaldo Robles, counsel for Trillanes, said the court has deferred the senator's arraignment to June 4 since they appealed his indictment.

Filed by Labor Undersecretary Jacinto Paras, the case alleged that Trillanes was secretly proposing to the military to launch a coup against the President.

He cited the following line: "Duterte will not be there for long, please do not do anything illegal or unconstitutional."

Paras alleged that Trillanes' statement was equivalent to committing the crime of inciting to sedition and coup d'etat.

Trillanes made the remark while he was holed up in his Senate office after the President voided his 2011 amnesty grant for his supposed failure to properly apply for it and admit guilt.

The senator, however, has repeatedly insisted that he followed procedure.

Trillanes, a former Navy officer who faced rebellion and coup d'etat charges over uprisings he led in 2003 and 2007, had sought the dismissal of the case, arguing that his statements were covered by parliamentary immunity.



- report from Dexter Ganibe, ABS-CBN News