Aguirre to attend Senate hearing on ‘irresponsible’ remarks vs. lawmakers

Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II on Sunday said he will attend a Senate investigation into his "irresponsible" remarks against several opposition lawmakers.

"Of course," he said in a text message when asked if he will be attending the hearing, which will be led by Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Information.

Poe was earlier reported to have said that the Senate is set to summon Aguirre over his claims that Senators Antonio F. Trillanes IV and Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino, Magdalo party-list Representative Gary C. Alejano, and Ronald Llamas—political adviser of former President Benigno S.C. Aquino III—met with the Alonto and Lucman political families prior to the attacks caused by the Maute group in Marawi City.

Aguirre has since backtracked on his comments and said he did not mean to implicate the Alonto and Lucman political families in the ongoing armed conflict.

Trillanes also released a copy of the official Senate record, which showed that he and Aquino had been at the Senate on the date Aguirre said the meeting took place.

On Thursday, Poe criticized Aguirre for adding to fake news with his claims "like a troll." “As chair of the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, I am alarmed by the proliferation of fake news on the internet both adversely affecting public and private interest,” she said.

Poe also urged President Rodrigo R. Duterte to at least "condemn in the strongest possible terms" Aguirre's "irresponsible" remarks. — BM, GMA News