JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe allegations that opposition lawmakers are hatching destabilization plot against the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

"The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), through Director Dante Gierran, is hereby directed and granted the authority to conduct investigation and case build-up over the alleged destabilization plot against the government of the Republic of the Philippines by some Senators and other opposition leaders," the order dated June 7 read.

The order came after Aguirre claimed that opposition lawmakers met with local leaders in Marawi before the terrorist attacks in the city started.

Aguirre ordered the NBI to file a case against the legislators if the evidence warrants it.

He also asked Gierran to submit a report before his office detailing the activities being conducted on the implementation of the order.

Aguirre last Wednesday said Senators Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino and Antonio Trillanes IV; Magdalo Partylist Representative Gary Alejano; and ex-Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Ronald Llamas met with the Alonto and Lucman clans in Marawi on May 2, weeks before martial law was declared in Mindanao due to attacks by the Maute terror group.

He said that the alleged meeting might have "agitated" groups in Marawi city, which could be part of the "plan to destabilize" the Duterte administration.

Aguirre's information about the meeting, later on, turned out to be a fake news item. (SunStar Philippines)