ASEAN MPs on raps vs Hontiveros: A ‘politically-motivated’ witch hunt

Charles Santiago, Parliament of Malaysia (Photo: Charles Santiago/Facebook)

Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) on Thursday criticized the politics, judicial process, and freedom of speech in the Philippines, in relation to the case filed against Senator Risa Hontiveros.

“Harassment of critics and human rights defenders in the Philippines must stop. The government must end what increasingly looks like a politically-motivated witch hunt,” APHR Chairperson Charles Santiago, a member of the Malaysian Parliament.

He stressed that the Philippine government has to put in place measures to guarantee the integrity of the judicial process and protect freedom of speech for all, including those who criticize the administration’s actions and policies.

Hontiveros, also a member of APHR, is facing raps on wiretapping filed by Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday due to her speech on September 11. During her speech, she showed a photo of Aguirre exchanging text messages with former Congressman Jacinto “Jing” Paras, including an image of their messages urging to ‘expedite the cases’ against Hontiveros.

“Accusing Senator Hontiveros of wiretapping for simply showing a photo taken by someone else is beyond the pale, even for this administration. The charges area not only unfounded, they call into question the very credibility of the Justice Department itself,” Santiago further said.

He added that there is a “pattern of harassment” in the Philippines when it comes to the critics of the administration. “First Senator Leila De Lima and now Senator Hontiveros. Who will be next?” he questioned.

In a statement, Hontiveros called on Aguirre to stop beating around the bush and focus on the issue. “For the information of the Secretary, there was no intent to tap or intercept his messages. There was no reasonable expectation of privacy. The law is clear. What is prohibited is willfully and knowingly committing any acts constituting wiretapping.”

APHR members recently attempted to visit De Lima in prison but was denied entry by the Philippine National Police in spite of following all required protocols on their permit to visit.

The APHR, founded in June 2013 promotes democracy and human rights in all ASEAN states, representing regional responses to human rights concerns, using the abilities of parliamentarians and other influential persons to advocate the protection of human rights throughout ASEAN.