Bam Aquino demands public clarification, apology from Aguirre over Marawi tag

MANILA, Philippines —– Sen. Bam Aquino IV on Thursday sought for a public clarification and apology from Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, who claimed he is involved with the Marawi terror attack.

Aquino, an opposition senator, said Aguire already apologized to him but he still demands a public clarification and apology since the justice secretary divulged his allegations publicly.

“Kagabi po nag-usap po kami ni Secretary Aguirre, he already apologized,” Aquino said.

“He told me in not so many words that with all the reports na pumasok po sa kanya he got confused…At humingi po ng paumanhin and he said that he would publicly clarify and apologize today at hinihintay ko pa rin po yung kanyang public clarification and apology,” the senator added.

According to Aquino, it was his colleague Sen. Loren Legarda who called Aguirre to seek for clarification. Aguirre later on gave him a phone call. 

On Wednesday, Aguirre said he is suspicious about Aquino's visit to Marawi City days before the local terror group, Maute, launched its attacks to the city. He then mulled on ordering an investigation into Aquino's visit, as well as the supposed connection of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano to the militant Maute group.

READ: Aguirre links opposition solons to Marawi, Resorts World

The Marawi crisis stemmed from a security operation to arrest Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon that led to a firefight with the terror group, the military said on May 23.

READ: Troop, Maute group clash in Marawi City

Aquino reiterated that he only went to Marawi for a public event opening of a Go Negosyo Center. The senator is the author of the Go Negosyo act.

Aside from Aquino, Aguirre also said his colleague in the Senate minority Trillanes, congressman Alejano and former presidential adviser Ronald Llamas may be involved in a destabilization plot against the Duterte administration.

He said the group, which is identified with the previous administration, met with prominent clans in Marawi in May prior to the clash between the military and the Maute extremists.

Aguirre’s allegation was based on a supposedly two-year-old photo taken in another area which is not Marawi City. Aquino decried this photo saying a colleague from the media said it was taken in Iloilo and that he was not even part of the photo.

Aquino said that two other agencies, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Armed Forces of the Philippines can verify that he has no links in Marawi siege. He said even his colleagues at the Senate vouched for him and proved that he was in a Senate session during the start of the crisis.

Asked about the basis of Aguirre’s insinuation, Aquino said it may be politically motivated.

“I think clearly political yung motivation... hindi naman po sikreto na meron talagang move to really implicate opposition senators those who have been dissenting on some of the issues of the administration,” Aquino said.

He said it has damaged not only his name but also public security. Due to this, Aquino said he is mulling on filing a resolution to have Aguirre’s claims be investigated in the Senate once the Congress returns its session by July.

The senator, meanwhile, called for nation’s unity amid the crisis.

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