Trillanes won't be outside critic of Aquino gov't

MANILA, Philippines - Freed Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday said he will not be an "outside critic" of the Aquino administration since he is an ally of President Benigno Aquino III.

Trillanes, who was given provisional liberty for Christmas, said he will be an active partner of the new President while also taking counsel from his fellow senators,

"Since we are allied with this administration, we are going to help them in their legislative agenda. So we're not going to be outside critics here. Kung meron kaming mapapansing mali, we're telling them directly. Di na palalabas sa media, kasi kung kaya namang ayusin. 'Yung legislative agenda, kung maganda, makabubuti sa marami, itutulak natin," he said in an interview on ABS-CBN's "Umagang Kay Ganda."

He added: "Di naman tayo magmamagaling na alam natin lahat so pakikinggan natin yung mga counsel ng mga nauna sa atin, mga old-timers sa Senado para ho mas ma-master natin yung legislative."

Trillanes personally thanked Aquino and Executive Secretary Paquito "Jojo" Ochoa as well as members of the House of Representatives who worked to grant amnesty to participants in 3 military uprisings during the Arroyo administration.

Asked what he learned in jail for the past 6 years, he said: "First of all, I learned to be patient with people and learn to accept the trials that come in life hoping that this thing will strengthen you as a person so you can come out better after everything."

Trillanes said he will work for reforms in the justice system, noting that many prisoners are not guilty of their crimes but were made fall guys.

"Ginawang fall guy or forced to admit through torture, coercion...The prosecutors and judges should be sifted through, they're disregarding some of these procedures kaya may nangyaring ganyang injustices," he said.

He also said he understands why some of his fellow officers broke away from their group so that they could be released earlier.

Trillanes, then a Navy lieutenant senior grade, was the spokesman of the Magdalo group of junior officers and soldiers who occupied the plush Oakwood Premiere apartments (now Ascott Makati) in late July 2003. The group demanded the resignation of then-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and some of the members of her Cabinet citing graft and corruption allegations.

He later walked out of a court hearing the coup d’etat charges against him in November 2007 with then Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and some members of the Magdalo group and triggered a standoff at the The Peninsula Manila hotel in the heart of the Makati Central Business District.

In 2007, while in detention, he successfully ran for a Senate seat but has yet to attend a session of the upper chamber. As head of a Senate committee, Trillanes, however, held a committee hearing while in detention.

Trillanes was released from detention at the Camp Crame Custodial Center Monday night after being detained for more than 6 years.

He will be a free man once the government amnesty program he had applied for takes effect.