JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has clarified anew his statement linking opposition lawmakers in the alleged meeting with the local leaders in Marawi City last May 2.
In a statement on Friday, Aguirre said Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino was not present in the said meeting, contrary to his earlier claims.
"Upon further verification, I was able to establish that Senator Bam Aquino went to Marawi City on May 19, 2017 upon invitation of Governor Soraya Alonto-Adiong to promote the GoNegosyo Program. He was not present in the alleged meeting of opposition leaders said to have been held in Marawi City on May 2, 2017," Aguirre said.
In a press conference last Wednesday, Aguirre said that Senators Aquino and Antonio Trillanes IV; Magdalo Partylist Representative Gary Alejano; and former Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Ronald Llamas held a meeting with the prominent clans in Marawi he identified as Alonto and Lucman, just before the terrorist attacks in the city perpetrated by the Maute group began.
The clashes between the military and the local terrorist group had prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao on May 23.
In his statement, Aguirre also said he did not issue the photo circulating online, said to be taken during the said meeting.
"I did not give, release or send to anyone any picture of any Marawi meeting," Aguirre said.
Last Wednesday, Aguirre recanted his first statement and said there was no meeting between the opposition lawmakers and the Lucman and Alonto families. He said he was just misquoted by the media.
Despite the "personal apology", Aquino said he is still mulling on filing a case against the justice secretary for his "careless statements" that had place the minority legislators under fire. (SunStar Philippines)