Aguirre to file ethics complaint vs. Hontiveros

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Wednesday he is going to file an ethics complaint against Senator Risa Hontiveros following the disclosure of his supposed text exchanges with former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras during a Senate inquiry last week.

Aguirre said he would file the complaint with the Senate committee on ethics next week, arguing Hontiveros violated the Bill of Rights on privacy of communications and Republic Act 4200 or the Anti-Wiretapping Act "at the very hallowed ground of the Senate."

The Cabinet official is also readying a civil complaint for alleged violation of his constitutional right to privacy of communication and a criminal complaint for violation of RA 4200 against Hontiveros.

On Tuesday, an "enraged" Aguirre slammed the alleged invasion of his privacy after Hontiveros disclosed in a privilege speech on Monday that she discovered through a photo of the text message that the Cabinet official and Paras were planning to bring cases against her.

She said the photo was taken by a member of the press during the Senate hearing on the death of teenage student Kian Delos Santos on September 5.

Aguirre, however, would not comment on the content of the text messages, nor address allegations that he was plotting to bring cases against Hontiveros, whose office took custody of three witnesses to Delos Santos' killing during an anti-drug operation in Caloocan City on August 16.

Hontiveros, meanwhile, said that there was no wiretapping involved.

"There was no intent to tap or intercept his messages. The law is clear. What is prohibited is willfully and knowingly committing any acts constituting wiretapping," she said. — BM/KVD, GMA News