MANILA - Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II apologized Tuesday for his remark during a rally at the Quirino Grandstand where he asked supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte to shout who should go to jail next.

In the rally that came a day after Senator Leila De Lima's arrest, Aguirre told the crowd: "Sabi niyo may gusto kayong isunod? Sino?(Who do you want jailed next?)."

"Trillanes!" the crowd shouted back, referring to staunch Duterte critic Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

Several senators have likened Aguirre to Pontius Pilate and a "perya barker" for supposedly agitating the crowd.

Speaking to radio DZMM, Aguirre said, "If for them my comment for that particular incident was not appropriate, sorry na lang and I'll be more tactful in the future."

But he also explained that he only repeated the comments of the event's emcee, who asked the audience which person should be prosecuted next by the government.

Aguirre told critics to not to "make a mountain out of a molehill."

"Alam naman natin sa mga ganyang political rally, andoon iyun mga biruan, mga passion, huwag na nating bigyan ng malaking kahulugan iyang mga 'yan. Nawawalan na tayo ng sense of humor e," he said.