Bam Aquino says Aguirre has apologized for linking him to Marawi attacks

Senator Bam Aquino on Thursday said Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has apologized for dragging his name to the Maute group’s attacks in Marawi City.

At a press conference, Aquino said he spoke with Aguirre Wednesday night, hours after the Cabinet official himself told the media that Aquino, along with other opposition lawmakers, met in Marawi City on May 2.

“Kagabi, nag-usap kami ni Secretary Aguirre and he apologized. He told me in so many words na sa dami ng reports na pumasok sa kanya, he got confused,” Aquino said.

“Humingi siya ng paumanhin and he said he would publicly apologize and clarify today. I’m still waiting for that,” the senator added.

Aquino said it was Senator Loren Legarda who phoned Aguirre during a social gathering with fellow senators. He said some of his colleagues were also “upset” by what Aguirre said.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday morning, Aguirre said it was possible that the May 2 meeting attended by Senators Aquino and Antonio Trillanes IV, and Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano could have “sparked the terroristic acts in Marawi."

Also allegedly present at the supposed meeting were former Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Ronald Llamas, certain families, and local leaders.

By Wednesday night, Aguirre claimed he was misquoted by the media.

“What I said was that there were reports that some opposition senators and leaders went to Marawi to recruit local politicians and warlords to destabilize the Duterte administration,” Aguirre said. 

‘Height of irresponsibility’

Aquino said Aguirre’s allegation was the “height of irresponsibility” for the Justice secretary, noting that he could easily have verified whether the said meeting took place.

Aquino showed to the media photos of his events in Manila on the same dates mentioned by Aguirre that the senator was supposedly in Marawi City -- April 24 and 28, and May 2.

On April 24, Aquino attended several events in Taguig City, San Juan, and then attended the birthday dinner for Vice President Leni Robredo. On April 28, he attended an ASEAN event in Pasay City.

On May 2, Aquino spoke at the Philippine International Convention Center, before attending the 3 p.m. session at the Senate.

“It’s vey irresposibile to make those statements habang napakadali naman mahanap yung katotohanan. Kung gusto mo hanapin ang katotohanan, talagang napakadali lang. Kung ayaw mo, mahirap talaga,” Aquino said.

Aquino, who belongs to the Senate minority bloc, said politics was behind Aguirre’s remarks.

“Clearly, politika yung motivation. Hindi namn po sikreto na meron talagang move to really implicate the opposition senators or those who have been dissenting to the issue of administration,” he said.

Aquino also shared to the media his text conversation with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who described Aguirre’s statements as "too absurd to be believed.”

In his exchange of text messages with the senator, Lorenzana assured Aquino that he “never gave credence to rumors about the lawmaker’s presence in Marawi” days before the skirmish between the government troops and members of the Maute group. — RSJ, GMA News