Trillanes Evades Court, Panelo Blasts ‘Black Propaganda’

Trillanes Evades Court, Panelo Blasts ‘Black Propaganda’

By TheNATIONWEEK.com News Desk | October 5, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte’s spokesperson, Atty. Salvador Panelo, has vehemently condemned former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, branding his withdrawal from the impeachment trial as “absolute proof” that his allegations are “nothing but black propaganda.”

This sharp rebuke follows Trillanes’ abrupt decision to forgo sworn testimony against VP Duterte, opting instead for a press conference—a move Panelo asserts is a calculated evasion of “real legal scrutiny.”

Panelo lambasted Trillanes’ consistent “desperate and tired narratives” since 2016, accusing him of recycling “exhausted lies” regarding extrajudicial killings (EJKs), fabricated drug links, and baseless corruption allegations against the Duterte family.

Panelo highlighted the repeated discrediting of Trillanes’ key witnesses, including “Bikoy” Advincula’s confession as a “puppet,” Atty. Jude Sabio’s withdrawal of ICC communication, and Arturo Lascañas’ “demolished credibility.” Panelo emphasized, “The Filipino people have rightfully and overwhelmingly rejected Trillanes in every subsequent attempt to get elected.”

He further criticized the timing of an international court “desperate for relevance” for “breathing life into his dead claims” through the 2025 “extrajudicial rendition” of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the ICC, despite a “dearth of credible or admissible evidence.”

Panelo specifically targeted Trillanes’ previous appearance before a “friendly House Justice Committee,” where “no probing or adversarial questions were allowed,” suggesting it was a venue “designed by the Vice President’s detractors to shield him.” He argued that Trillanes’ subsequent claim of vindication from “highly unreliable AMLA records, stripped of proper context,” was equally flawed.

“Yet, the moment he was faced with the very first opportunity to test his wild claims against actual facts, verified records, and law through cross-examination by the Vice President’s defense team, Trillanes folded,” Panelo declared. “Instead of defending his claims under oath, he chose the comfort of a safe and scripted press conference where his lies could once again go unchallenged. This sudden retreat is absolute proof that his claims cannot survive real legal scrutiny and are nothing but black propaganda, which is par for the course for a professional character assassin.”

Panelo reiterated the Vice President’s confidence in “the law, the facts, and the evidence,” stating her defense team “stands ready to refute whatever Trillanes’ accusations the prosecution believes are even credible enough for the Court’s serious consideration” before the Senate Impeachment Court. He also thanked the Filipino people for “seeing through Trillanes’ latest media stunt for the absolute garbage that it is, and as part of this government’s increasingly diabolical, well-funded plot to politically destroy her.”

Impeachment Verdict Nears Amid Witness Withdrawal, Evidence Rejection

The Vice President’s impeachment trial is fast approaching a verdict, with expectations for mid-to-late November. This follows the Senate’s critical rejection of crucial financial evidence and Trillanes’ controversial withdrawal. Senate President Win Gatchalian projects 30 to 45 more days for deliberations.

On Day 31 of the trial (September 29, 2026), Presiding Officer Francis Escudero rejected the prosecution’s request to introduce the Vice President’s bank records, citing the constitutional right against self-incrimination. The prosecution’s earlier comprehensive financial record request was also denied.

Davao Mayor Declared Hostile

Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte was declared a hostile witness, allowing prosecutors to employ leading questions. Mayor Duterte testified he only learned of GenCorp Industries Inc. during his sister’s trial, despite the company securing 15 city food service contracts totaling P34,216,900 from June 2022 to June 2026. Senate President Gatchalian pressed Mayor Duterte on GenCorp’s exclusive securing of 19 city contracts over five years. The Mayor, while finding it “unremarkable,” crucially stated he would have prevented the contracts had he known of his sister’s alleged stake.

Trillanes’ Abrupt Withdrawal Fuels Scrutiny

Trillanes, a central figure in the impeachment narrative, abruptly withdrew from the prosecution’s witness list. Citing a desire to “ease pressure” on the House prosecution panel without further elaboration, his decision to hold a press conference instead of facing cross-examination “profoundly impacts the trial’s integrity.”

This “startling pivot from sworn judicial testimony… to an uncontrolled media platform raises critical questions regarding the veracity of Trillanes’ claims and his underlying motives.” His “deliberate avoidance of formal legal scrutiny… fuels intense suspicion.”

The article questions, “Does Trillanes fear the defense lawyer’s ability to expose flaws in his so-called evidence, choosing a press conference to escape accountability for his claims?” While prosecutor Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro maintained Trillanes’ withdrawal wouldn’t weaken the case, the “abrupt strategic shift is undeniably damaging.”

Trillanes’ prominent role in the pre-trial brief makes his absence from the witness stand a “significant point of contention for the broader case’s evidentiary foundation.” Meanwhile, the defense, led by Atty. Sheila Sison, highlighted the “immense complexity of the financial allegations,” requesting ample time to review 24 boxes of AMLC documents.

As Trillanes prepares to face the media rather than the defense, “the public demands answers.” His choice to circumvent the established legal framework for presenting evidence against a sitting Vice President is “unprecedented and requires thorough scrutiny.” The nation seeks to know “whether his allegations are founded on verifiable facts or are merely political rhetoric, strategically delivered without accountability for his claims.” The press conference, “devoid of courtroom checks and balances,” will be closely watched for “any genuine substantiation or further indications of a calculated evasion from rigorous legal challenge.”