No apology, but Aguirre clears Bam on Marawi

MANILA, Philippines - Short of issuing a public apology, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II yesterday retracted his earlier statement and cleared Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV of any involvement in Maute group atrocities in Marawi City.

Aguirre issued a “clarification” on the reported presence of Aquino in Marawi City days before the terror group attacked the city last May 23.

He said that while it was established that Aquino went to Marawi City, it was to help promote the Go Negosyo Program and not to attend a meeting of opposition leaders. 

“Upon further verification, I was able to establish that Sen. Bam Aquino went to Marawi City on May 19, 2017 upon invitation of Gov. Soraya Alonto-Adiong to promote the Go Negosyo,” said Aguirre.

“It appears that the good senator was not present in the alleged meeting of opposition leaders said to have been held in Marawi City on May 2, 2017,” he added.

Aguirre also clarified that the photograph of the alleged meeting in Marawi City, which was taken some two years ago at the Iloilo Airport, did not come from him. 

“I did not give, release or send to anyone any picture of any Marawi meeting. The picture of an alleged meeting allegedly taken in 2015 did not come from me,” Aguirre said.

The photo reportedly showed Zamboanga del Sur Vice Gov. Ace William Cerilles, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, former Pampanga governor Mark Lapid, former president  Benigno Aquino III’s adviser Ronald Llamas and Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano in a coffee shop at the Iloilo International Airport two years ago.

This was the same photo reportedly showed by Aguirre to members of the media last Wednesday, where he claimed that opposition lawmakers met with some local leaders in Marawi City last May 2, three weeks before the Marawi siege. 

Meanwhile, in a statement, he also said that the information he got was still “raw” and would require further investigation. 

After his press conference last Wednesday, where Aguirre reportedly waved the photo of the alleged meeting in Marawi to members of the media, Aguirre issued Department Order No. 385 dated June 7 instructing the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct an investigation and case buildup over the alleged destabilization plot against the government by some senators and other opposition leaders.

If, after the investigation, the NBI is able to establish evidence, the bureau would file the appropriate charges against individuals found liable. 

Senator Aquino said that he is still waiting for the public apology from Aguirre and could not understand why it is taking him so long to do this.

Aquino said the statement issued by the office of Aguirre clearing him of any involvement in the destabilization plot against the administration, specifically the ongoing conflict in Marawi City, is not enough.

Aquino has denounced the claims made by Aguirre as false news, citing evidence showing that he was not in Marawi last May 2.

“Trade Sec. Mon Lopez has already publicly clarified and confirmed that I was in Marawi City for the Negosyo Center launch. These are easily verifiable for anyone who cares to find the truth,” Aquino said.

Aquino said that he was baffled by the delay in the issuance of the public apology by Aguirre.

Trillanes on Wednesday furnished the media with a copy of the Senate journal of May 2 that showed him in attendance at the session amid comments in social media that he can be logged as being present but was physically out on “official business.”

“These trolls won’t stop even if they’re found out to be spreading fake news time and again,” Trillanes said in a text message. “Anyway, the Senate CCTV (closed circuit television) can easily validate that information.”

Sen. Grace Poe, who chairs the Senate committee on public information and mass media, expressed alarm over the proliferation of fake news on the internet “both adversely affecting public and private interests.”

Sen. Leila de Lima said yesterday that the latest caper of Aguirre about members of the opposition being involved in the conflict in Marawi City only solidifies his role as the Duterte administration’s resident clown.

In a handwritten note, De Lima said that the accusations made by Aguirre, which was based on fake news, were not only stupid but also outrageous.

De Lima was arrested on charges of being involved in the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison. She is now detained at Camp Crame, Quezon City. – With Marvin Sy, Paolo Romero