Despite his apology, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II could still face charges or a possible Senate probe for linking some opposition senators to the notorious Maute group that launched an attack in Marawi City.
Senator Bam Aquino said some groups had advised him to file a case against the Justice Secretary for accusing him of being part of an alleged plot that could have sparked the Maute siege in Marawi City.
鈥淭here are some groups, who have come to me and said na (that) we should file cases para talagang klaro na mali itong nangyari at nagawa n鈥檡a 鈥榶an (so it will be explicitly said that what he did was wrong). We鈥檙e still looking (into) that. Tinitingnan din natin kung magandang course of action 鈥榶un (We鈥檙e still weighing if it鈥檚 a good course of action),鈥� Aquino said at Thursday鈥檚 regular forum in the Senate.
鈥淗indi lang kasi ito personal. 鈥榊ung apology kasi is personal (This is not just a personal issue. His apology was personal). But this is also institutional because he represents the DOJ (Department of Justice), so hindi lang po ito basta-basta (this is not a small matter)鈥︹�� he said.
Aquino earlier said Aguirre had apologized to him by phone, saying he only got 鈥渃onfused鈥� by the many reports he had been receiving. But the senator still wants the Justice Secretary to issue a public clarification and apology on the matter.
READ: Bam says Aguirre has apologized, cited 鈥榗onfusion鈥�
Aside from possible filing of cases, the senator said he was also thinking of seeking a Senate probe when Congress resumes its session in July.
鈥淜asi obviously wala naman po kaming tinatago, magandang ipaimbestiga natin ito sa majority para talagang malaman 鈥榶ung katotohanan (Because obviously, I am not hiding anything, it will be better if we will have the majority investigate this so we may find out the truth),鈥� he said.
On Wednesday, Aguirre was quoted in the media as saying Aquino attended the May 2 meeting in Marawi City with other opposition lawmakers鈥� Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano, which could have sparked the terrorist attack in the city by the Mauwi group.
But Aquino described Aguirre鈥檚 accusation as 鈥渙utrageous,鈥� 鈥渞idiculous,鈥� and 鈥渙ut of this world.鈥�
搁贰础顿:听Bam tells Aguirre: Don鈥檛 rely on 鈥榝ake news鈥� in making accusations
鈥淵ou鈥檙e the Secretary of Justice. We expect more from you. So ito pong style na magsasabi kunwari sa media at babawiin na lang, we all know that鈥檚 not enough na magbawi lang (So your style of issuing statements to the media then retracting them, we know that it鈥檚 not enough for you to just retract). You need to acknowledge it, apologize for it, at huwag nyo nang ulitin (and not commit the same mistake again),鈥� said the senator.
鈥淗indi po s鈥檡a light na (It鈥檚 not a light) accusation. It鈥檚 probably the heaviest accusation, which is that you are in cahoots with terrorists. Isa s鈥檡ang napakabigat na (It鈥檚 a loaded) accusation and of course personally I would appreciate his apology. Nangako naman s鈥檡a na (he promised that) he would clarify today. Hinihintay ko pa rin 鈥榶un (I am still waiting for it).鈥�
鈥淧ero kung may iba pa pong course of action especially dito sa Senado, pag-uusapan pa po natin (But if there are other courses of action especially in the Senate, then we will discuss it),鈥� Aquino added. IDL/rga
RELATED VIDEO