Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 28) — Senator Risa Hontinveros posted a cash bond on Tuesday related to a wiretapping complaint filed by former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre.
Hontiveros released a statement on her Facebook page after posting the ₱36,000 bond, saying the case filed by Aguirre against her was baseless and that the law was on her side.
“Protektado ng mismong Konstitusyon ang lahat ng aspeto ng aking privilege speech sa Senate, kaya panatag akong wala akong kahit anong paglabag sa Anti-Wiretapping Law,” she said
In 2017, Aguirre filed a case against the senator for allegedly violating the anti-wiretapping law, when she shared an image of a text message where the former Justice chief was discussing expediting cases against the lawmaker during a Senate hearing.
The message was shown during a privilege speech by Hontiveros.
Aguirre claimed, meanwhile, that his right to privacy was violated.
The lawmaker also called out Aguirre, saying it was his fault for sending messages in large fonts in the middle of a public event “in full view of photographers’ cameras.”
“Bakit parang kasalanan ko pa na nalaman ng mamamayang Pilipino ang pakay niya laban sa akin?” Hontiveros asked.
[Translation: Why should it be my fault if the Filipino people found out about his plan against me?]
She also questioned why the case was only moving now after it had been ignored for four years. She called Aguirre’s efforts as “black propaganda,” adding they were wrong if they believed she would be cowed.
Aguirre has not replied to Hontiveros’ statement.
Meanwhile, the senator’s arraignment and pre-trail conference is set for Jan. 21, 2022.
[Translation: All of the aspects of my privilege speech at the Senate are protected by the Constitution, so I am confident that I did not violate the Anti-Wiretapping Law.]
