Bam Aquino ‘baffled’ by delay in Aguirre’s public apology: Why wait ‘til Monday?

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV on Friday said he was “baffled” by the delay in the issuance of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II’s public apology on his earlier accusation that several opposition lawmakers met in Marawi City weeks prior to the Maute group’s attacks.

Aquino said “the Justice Secretary should simply apologize and take responsibility for his reckless accusations.”

Aquino said there was no reason to wait until Monday to correct his mistakes, as Aguirre told the media that he will answer their questions in an interview next week.

In a statement on Friday, Aguirre retracted his claim that Aquino was present in the alleged meeting of opposition lawmakers with some political families prior to the Marawi City attacks.

"He [Aquino] was not present in the alleged meeting of opposition leaders said to have been held in Marawi City on May 2, 2017," Aguirre said.

The justice chief said "upon further verification" he found out that Aquino went to Marawi on May 19 following an invitation from Lanao Del Sur Governor Soraya Alonto-Adiong to promote the Go Negosyo Program.

Aquino said Aguirre was “merely stating the obvious” in his statement.

“The least he can do is make a public apology at hinahanap natin ang pangako na mas magiging maingat na siya sa kanyang mga binibitawang salita,” he said.

Aquino earlier said that Aguirre apologized to him over the phone Wednesday night, claiming merely that “he got confused” with reports reaching his office.

Also supposedly present in the meeting were Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, and former Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Ronald Llamas, all of whom denied the allegations of Aguirre. — Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/RSJ, GMA News