JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has continued to refuse to apologize for insinuating that members of the opposition, along with some members of influential Maranao clans, instigated the Marawi City crisis, adding that he could launch an investigation on the matter.
“I could not revoke the deal that I made because it is my duty under the law, under the administrative code, under the new NBI law to investigate this kind of cases, because as long as there is a complaint or raw information, it is my duty to do it (investigate),” Aguirre said in a press briefing here recently, adding that he will be remiss of his duty if he will not investigate.
It can be recalled that justice chief implied that Liberal Party (LP) officials may have something to do with the attack on Marawi where combined members of the Maute Group and Abu Sayyaf are engaging in urban warfare with government forces.
The crisis began on May 23 when law enforcers tried to serve an arrest warrant for known Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon. It triggered the evacuation of thousands of residents and the deaths of civilians, state security forces personnel, and insurgents.
In a press conference in Manila last week, Aguirre implied that Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano, and former presidential adviser Ronald Llamas may be involved in the crisis.
The Secretary showed a photo on his phone showing the mentioned officials having a meeting with members of the Lucman and Alonto clans last month.
Media groups have discovered that the photo Aguirre presented, although briefly, to the media was taken in 2015.
Although he had already cleared Aquino who went to Marawi days before the conflict started as guest of honor of the opening of the Negosyo Center.
Aquino was the author of the Go Negosyo Law and his attendance to said event was upon the invitation of the Department of Trade and Industry, who vouched for the senator.
All the other officials claimed they never set foot on Marawi on the date mentioned by Aguirre.
But the Secretary maintained he will continue with the investigation even if the individuals mentioned have denied their involvement in the siege.
“I believe that the people [who] I mention should welcome this, because of the investigation will push through and they are innocent of the charges or of the suspicion, then they will be cleared,” he said.
Aguirre said the probe does not only target those associated with the LP but also allies of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“This is not only for the opposition... Some people I mention are supporters of [Duterte] that is why they protested,” he added.
When asked if he will apologize for wrongfully accusing Aquino and his allies, Aguirre replied: “No, because I have nothing to apologize. I believe it is my duty. Lahat tayo nagkakamali (We all commit mistakes). Let’s not make a mountain out of a mole.”
Aguirre also got the ire of the media community when he accused journalists of misquoting him when implied the accusation.
“You lie when you claim you were ‘misquoted’ when you lied about the fictitious meeting between opposition politicians and prominent Marawi clans that you then attempted to portray as a prelude to the continuing battle between government forces and extremist gunmen,” said the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines in a statement.