Aguirre says Hontiveros should be the one to resign

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Thursday stressed it should be Senator Risa Hontiveros who should resign, addressing critics saying he should step down from his position.

"Kung merong dapat magbitiw sa tungkulin, ay si Senator Risa Hontiveros sapagkat sinalaula niya ang Senado," Aguirre said in a telephone interview with Unang Balita.

Aguirre said Hontiveros in her speech violated Republic Act 4200 or the Anti-Wire Tapping Law.

"'Yun pong paglabag niya sa Konstitusyon ay ginawa niya sa hallowed grounds ng Senado. Siya po ang kailangang magbitiw sapagkat nilabag po niya ang batas sa loob ng Senado," the DOJ chief said, justifying his statement.

Hontiveros: Indecent, unethical

Asked for her reaction to Aguirre's call for her resignation, Hontiveros on Thursday said, "Si Secretary talaga. Ang aking batayan sa panawagan na sila'y magbitiw ay hindi lamang ito 'yung paglabag sa sinasabi nilang hallowed grounds ng Senado. Wala na kong maisip na mas indecent pa o unethical o indecent pa sa kanilang ginawang pagpapakana laban sa isang sitting senator sa loob mismo ng Senate session hall."

Hontiveros, in an interview on Unang Balita, said Aguirre also committed other acts which were unethical for him to do as secretary of the Department of Justice. These include the downgrading of murder charges to homicide in the Rolando Espinosa slay case, and the meeting with gaming tycoon Jack Lam at a hotel.

"Napaka-unethical talaga for a secretary of Justice," the senator said.

Cases vs. Hontiveros

Aguirre also said he was planning to file an administrative case against Hontiveros before the Sandiganbayan, a civil case before the regional trial court, and an ethics complaint before the Senate Committee on Ethics.

"Puwede po ang administrative [case] i-file sa Sandiganbayan. Iniisip ko rin pong mag-file ng civil case. Ire-reserve ko po 'yung aking damages claim at 'yan po ay ifa-file ko po sa regional trial court. At pati po ang paglabag niya sa rules sa Senate. Dapat din magsampa ako ng ethics complaint sa kanilang Committee on Ethics," Aguirre said.

Asked about the validity of these cases he plans to file against Hontiveros, Aguirre said, "Hindi po excuse 'yun [na hindi si Hontiveros ang kumuha ng photo]."

"Kung binasa niyo po ang RA 4200, makikita niyo po na 'yung kumuha ng video 'yun pong nasa possession lang nito, 'yun pong gumamit nito, 'yun pong nagsapubliko nito pare-pareho po sila ng kasalanan o responsibility kaugnay nito," he added.

The justice secretary also said the immunity senators have when making privilege speeches as stated in the Constitution is only applicable in debates.

Aguirre also refused to reveal the content of his text message with a certain "Cong. Jing" about the alleged charges to be filed against Hontiveros. He said it would be a violation of his right to privacy, quoting a provision in the Bill of Rights.

"Alam po ninyo sa ating Konstitusyon sa Article 3, isa sa Bill of Rights 'yang privacy of communication between individuals... itong particular na provision na 'the privacy of an individual should remain inviolable,' ito ay self-executing," said Aguirre.

Carl, Kulot cases

Meanwhile, the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) will present a new witness during the hearing at the DOJ set to happen on Thursday afternoon. The DOJ chief said the witness will testify that Carl Angelo Arnaiz was killed at dawn.

He also said PAO Chief Persida Acosta on Thursday will file double murder charges against the policemen who allegedly killed Carl Angelo Arnaiz and Reynaldo "Kulot" de Guzman.

Aguirre said he will not be able to attend the hearing as he has a matter to attend to at the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking at the DOJ. —Akari Nakano/KG, GMA News