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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO and PRINCE GOLEZ
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Thursday, June 8, 2017
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MANILA – Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre sought investigation into the possible hand of opposition lawmakers in sparking the attack of the Maute group in Marawi City.
Senators Paolo Benigno Aquino and Antonio Trillanes IV and Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, along with Ronald Llamas, political adviser of former president Benigno Aquino III, met with local leaders in Marawi on May 2, three weeks before the attack, Aguirre claimed.
The meeting could “probably and possibly” spark the terroristic acts to destabilize the Duterte administration, Aguirre told the press on Wednesday. “Hindi ko malaman why after they went there, nagkagulo na after two weeks. They met with the people there. They met with several families there.”
Aquino and Trillanes denied the allegations.
“It is possible that the meeting could have agitated groups in the city and could even be part of moves to destabilize the Duterte administration,” said Aguirre, who claimed to have evidence proving the meeting took place.
Aguirre said the probe should determine if the lawmakers were responsible for bringing in the P79 million worth of cash and checks the Philippines Marines found in one of the Maute group’s lair on Tuesday.
“Is fake news enough for the head of our country’s Department of Justice to make these outrageous allegations?” Aquino said. “To be clear, there was never any meeting among the individuals mentioned by Secretary Aguirre.”
Aquino said he was at the Philippine International Convention Center on May 2 to speak at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines’ commencement ceremonies and attended a Senate session on the same day.
“My trip to Marawi was on May 19, 2017 to launch the first Negosyo Center in the ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), and I had with me an AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) escort throughout my trip, which can easily be verified through the AFP,” he said.
Aquino claimed Vice Gov. Bombit Adiong, Brigadier General Rolando Joselito Bautista, and General Nixon Fortes joined him.
Aguirre should “clarify dates, seek evidence and request for official statements from legitimate government agencies before he makes yet another false accusation,” said Aquino.
For his part Trillanes said he has not visited Marawi in the past three years.
“For the record, I am not involved in any way with the Maute group or the Marawi incident,” the former Navy official said in a statement.
“But don’t take my word for it. Check the Senate records for May 2,” said Trillanes. “The incompetence of Aguirre is only matched by his stupidity. I would advise him to avoid getting his intel from Facebook conspiracy theorists.”/PN
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