Sen. Bam Aquino says he asked Sec. Aguirre to clarify alleged misquoted statements on Marawi meeting publicly. #ANCRecap #ANCEarlyEdition pic.twitter.com/dOEuMxX51R — ABS-CBN News Channel (@ANCALERTS) June 8, 2017

MANILA - Senator Bam Aquino on Thursday said Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre has already apologized to him after the latter linked him to the terror attack in Marawi City.

Aquino said he was able to talk to Aguirre who admitted he was confused with all the reports he is getting about the Marawi crisis. The justice chief vowed to issue a clarification of his earlier allegations, according to the senator.

"He (Aguirre) said with all the reports that came to him, na-confuse na rin po siya sa mga pangyayari and he promised that he would clarify it again today," he told ANC on Thursday.

The senator said he hopes that Aguirre would issue a public apology today, considering the possible implications of the allegation to the Marawi crisis.

"He apologized last night. I hope he would apologize when he talks to the public today... Hindi ito bastang-bastang bagay. When you are linked to terrorism... you just can't take it sitting down," he said.

Aguirre earlier said the meeting between local leaders of Marawi with Aquino and some other opposition officials could have sparked the conflict in the southern city.

Among the officials he tagged were Senator Antonio Trillanes, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano and former presidential political adviser Ronald Llamas.

He later said he was misquoted by the media and apologized for his allegations but only to the Alonto and Lucman families.

"To the Alonto and Lucman families, my sincere apologies for any confusion about this issue," the justice chief said.

"There was no intent on my part to implicate the Alonto and Lucman families in the crisis Marawi City is currently facing. Both families have never been and shall never be a part of any plot to destroy or cause harm to anybody or any property," he added.

For his part, Aquino said there is a plot to malign all opposition senators. "Anyone who is providing any dissent these days are being lumped together with destabilizers, coup plotters and all of these bad elements in society," he said.

He noted that as head of the Department of Justice, Aguirre could have verified the allegations before making irresponsible statements.

The senator added that he was here in Manila during the dates Aguirre said he was in a meeting in Marawi -- -- April 24 and 28, and May 2.

Aquino said there are even photos available to the public that the justice chief could have checked first.

"The fact that our secretary of justice was using false reports or fake news for his own assessment is really damaging to him and our country," he said.

"I think it's plain politicking. Madaling i-link ang mga tao, na perceived na kaaway niyo, to bad things. But again, these are serious matters, hindi dapat ito pinopolitika."

He said even Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told him the allegations of Aguirre "are to absurd to be believed."

Aquino said he has accepted the apology of Aguirre and he hopes it would not happen again.