(Eagle News) — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre on Monday filed criminal charges against Senator Risa Hontiveros for supposed violation of the Anti-Wiretapping Law.
Aguirre personally filed the charges that stem from Hontiveros’ public display of what the justice secretary said were his private messages with a certain Jing during a Senate hearing on the death of Kian Loyd delos Santos.
In the messages, Hontiveros said Aguirre urged former Rep. Jacinto Paras to file cases against her.
Paras later said these cases stem from Hontiveros’ refusal to turn over alleged witnesses to Delos Santos’ killing to the Department of Justice.
According to Aguirre, he filed the criminal charges against Hontiveros before the Pasay Prosecutors Office–which is under the jurisdiction of the DOJ– and not before the Ombudsman because Hontiveros committed the supposed crime when she was not performing her duties.
He said there was nothing he could do as it was the law itself that dictates where charges should be filed.
“What I could say is that the DOJ will treat these cases fairly and with justice, so Sen. Risa has nothing to fear,” Aguirre said.