Aguirre: I have nothing to apologize for

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday refused to apologize in public over his remarks linking three opposition lawmakers to the attack on Marawi City by the ISIS-inspired Maute group.

"I have nothing to apologize for. I believe it's my duty," Aguirre said in a report by GMA News' Jam Sisante on 24 Oras.

Last week, Aguirre said Senators Bam Aquino and Antonio Trillanes IV, together with Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano and former Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Ronald Llamas, had a meeting with the Alonto and Lucman political families prior to the attacks caused by the Maute group in Marawi City on May 23.

After the senators were able to show proof that no such meeting occurred, Aguirre claimed he was misquoted by the press.

Aquino said Aguirre should issue a public apology over his remarks.

Trillanes, for his part, said Aguirre should stop sourcing his intelligence information from Facebook.

Despite his claim that he was misquoted, Aguirre issued Department Order 385 directing the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate and build a case against “some senators and other opposition leaders” linked to an alleged destabilization plot. —KBK, GMA News