JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III on Wednesday failed to get confirmation from the powerful Commission on Appointments for cursing Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and calling him “a son of a bitch,” “gagong senador” [stupid senator] and “sundalong kanin” [useless soldier].
He told reporters he felt disappointed at not being confirmed.
“Well, I would be untruthful if I said I was not disappointed. The opposition against me has no basis,” Aguirre said.
He justified his tirades against Trillanes and said it was okay to call someone a son of a bitch because the Supreme Court had ruled that the expletive was not libelous.
Senator Panfilo Lacson had confronted Aguirre for calling Trillanes “a son of a bitch.”
He again cited the alleged Supreme Court decision.
“That’s what the Supreme Court said, that it’s not libelous. It’s okay for the Filipinos to use it,” he said.
“I will not deny that I have called Senator Trillanes sundalong kanin, gagong senador or duwag. It will not be me if I don’t tell you the truth. I’ve been raised to tell the truth no matter how inconvenient it may be,” Aguirre told the CA panel.
He said he made those remarks only because of the baseless attacks against him.
Trillanes, who is on official business in the United States, had accused Aguirre of possible involvement in the P50-million bribery scandal hounding the Bureau of Immigration.
Lacson moved to recommend Aguirre’s confirmation, which was immediately seconded by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.
But Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto opposed Lacson’s motion saying Trillanes, who is a member of the Senate minority, should be given the opportunity to confront Aguirre when he arrives on Feb. 11.
The CA panel agreed to hold another hearing on Feb. 15.
In his supplemental sworn opposition dated Jan. 30, 2017, Trillanes said Aguirre “lacks the required demeanor befitting the position of Secretary of Justice.
“His spiteful reaction clearly shows that he is vindictive, vengeful and that he completely lacks the required equanimity for him to be entrusted with the power and authority of the government, as Secretary of Justice.”