The Justice Secretary is set to order a probe for Senator Bam Aquino's visitation in Marawi City and also to the alleged link to Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano to the militant Maute group.
The rumors about their connections started and circulated on social media which made Sec. Aguirre cautious about Senator Aquino's visit two weeks before the siege in Marawi which started on May 23 till present.
He accused Sen. Aquino, Sen. Trillanes, Cong. Alejano and the former presidential adviser Ronald Llamas of an alleged involvement with the plan to destabilize the Duterte administration. He stated that they met with the clans in Marawi before the clash between the local terrorist groups and government troops began.
Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry defended Sen. Aquino about his trip and activities in Marawi
"It is unfortunate that (Senator Bam Aquino's) visit is now the subject of false news and reports," Ramon Lopez, DTI secretary response to Justice sec. Aguirre's accusations to the senator.
Calling the DOJ Secretary's accusations as "misinformation", he also pointed out that the Aquino attended the launching of the first Negosyo Center in ARMM for he is the author of the Go Negosyo Law which was created for the promotion of inclusive growth which encourages small to medium sized businesses.
Senator Aquino said that on May 2, he was the " PUP commencement speaker at the PICC and attended the session at the Philippine Senate". He also stated that the meeting Aguirre is accusing them never happened.
"My trip to Marawi was on May 19, 2017 to launch the first Negosyo Center in the ARMM and I had with me an AFP escort throughout my trip, which can easily be verified through the AFP," he said. He also said the Lanao del Sur Vice Governor Mamintal "Bombit" Adiong Jr., Brig.Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista of the Army's 1st Infantry Division and Brig.Gen. Nixon Fortes of the 103rd Infantry Brigade were at the same event.
"It would be prudent for Secretary Aguirre to clarify dates, seek evidence and request for official statements from legitimate government agencies before he makes yet another false accusation," Aquino stated.
Senator Trillanes denied the allegations about him linking to the Maute group on Wednesday afternoon.
"I also did not have any meeting in Marawi in May 2 since I haven't visited Marawi for the past three years," he said, and mentioned that the records in the Senate will prove his appearance that day. The senator also advised the DOJ secretary to "avoid getting his intel from Facebook conspiracy theorists."
Regarding the attack in Resorts World Manila, Aguirre stated that he sees a link between the detained Senator Leila de Lima to the deaths of several people, both customers and employees in the casino complex a week ago.
He cited De Lima's opinion on 2014, when the former DOJ secretary prohibited the Bureau of Fire Protection in implementing guidelines on casinos. The now Justice secretary said that de Lima's opinion could be one of the cause to the deaths of 37 individuals who died of suffocation in the building.
"Because of the said opinion, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, a government agency without competence and experience in fire protection, who was given the authority to implement the Fire Code and its implementing rules and regulations respecting PEZA registered companies like the casinos," he said.
However, PEZA Director-General Charito Plaza dismissed Aguirre's citation and instead cited a law.
"We have civil, safety, structural, mechanical and electrical engineers who inspected during the construction of industries’ buildings and facilities and [conduct] twice a year," Plaza said.
Source: PhilStar
0 comments: