MANILA, Philippines—Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday dismissed Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II’s wiretapping charges against her as a “desperate” attempt to deflect public attention.
“The cases filed against me today by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre are a desperate attempt to deflect public attention away from his text conversation inadverdently captured by someone’s camera lens, which caught him red-handed plotting against me during a Senate hearing inside the Senate,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
Aguirre filed charges against Hontiveros before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s office for allegedly violating Republic Act 4200 or the Anti-Wiretapping Act when the senator released to the public a photo Aguirre texting Negros Occidental representative Jacinto Paras about expediting cases against Hontiveros.
[READ: Aguirre files wiretapping complaint vs Hontiveros]
The photo was captured on September 5 while Aguirre was attending a Senate hearing on the death of 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos.
“Secretary Aguirre was caught conspiring and instigating private individuals to file cases against a sitting Senator inside the Senate,” Hontiveros said, stressing that Aguirre didn’t deny the text conversation taking place.
Aguirre told the Senate that the photo of him texting Paras was taken “intentionally, maliciously and unlawfully.”
“It was never an inadvertent act, contrary to the claim of Senator Risa Hontiveros in her privilege speech. I was targeted, I was singled out and it was premeditated,” Aguirre said.
Hontiveros denied Aguirre’s allegations, adding that there were no laws breached.
“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,” she said.
Pasay City Prosecutor’s office, where Aguirre filed the complaint, operates under DOJ which Aguirre heads. Despite a possible conflict of interest, Aguirre assured Hontiveros of fair treatment.
“What I could say is that the DOJ will treat these cases fairly and with justice, so Sen. Risa has nothing to fear,” he said.
In spite of Aguirre’s assurance, Hontiveros casted doubts on a fair trial the Justice Secretary promised.
“Sabi ni Secretary Aguirre bibigyan daw niya ako ng “magandang laban.” Magandang laban o lutong Macau? Isa sa kasong sinampa sa akin ni Secretary Aguirre ay kanyang hinain sa prosecutor’s office na nasa ilalim ng kanyang jurisdiction. [Secretary Aguirre said that he will give me a “good fight.” A good fight or a rigged one? One of the cases pressed against me by Secretary Aguirre were filed in the prosecutor’s office that’s under his jurisdiction]. Maliwanag ang [It’s clear (that there is a)] conflict of interest. This also confirms the conspiracy hatched by Secretary Aguirre to “expedite” the filing of cases against me,” the senator said.
Hontiveros also called on Aguirre to stop “making excuses” and “hiding behind false charges” and leave his post, instead.
“Mr. Secretary, it’s already game over. Tapos na ang boksing. Bistong-bisto ka na. Buko ka na. Tama na ang pagpapalusot. Tama na ang pagtatago sa mga pekeng kaso. Panahon na para lisanin mo ang posisyon na lubos na dinungisan mo [The boxing fight is over. You’re obvious. You’ve been exposed. Stop making excuses. Enough with hiding from false charges. It’s time to clean the position that you had fully stained],” she said.