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Bam Aquino blasts Aguirre's 'outrageous' allegations as 'fake news'
Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV on Wednesday belied the “outrageous” allegations of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II over his supposed link to the attacks perpetrated by the Maute group in Marawi City.
Aquino, a member of the former ruling Liberal Party (LP), lamented how the Marawi tragedy is “being used to further political interests and divide the country” instead of using it as an opportunity to unite the Philippines “against a common enemy.”
Aquino said no such meeting occurred.
He said he was the commencement speaker of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila, and also attended the Senate session thereafter, on May 2.
Aquino said he went to Marawi on May 19 to launch the first Negosyo Center in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which even Trade Secretary Mon Lopez has already clarified.
“I had with me an AFP escort throughout my trip, which can easily be verified through the AFP. Vice Gov. [Mamintal] Adiong, Gen. [Rolando] Bautista and Gen. [Nixon] Fortes were also with me during the event,” Aquino added.
“These are easily verifiable for anyone who cares to find the truth. It would be prudent for Sec. Aguirre to clarify dates, seek evidence and request for official statements from legitimate government agencies before he makes yet another false accusation,” the senator said.
Aquino said Aguirre fell victim to “fake news.”
“Is fake news enough for the head of our country’s Department of Justice to make these outrageous allegations?” he said.
Aguirre said it was possible that the meeting “sparked the terroristic acts in Marawi."
"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,” Aguirre said. —KBK, GMA News
