(Eagle News) — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre decried what he said was the “shameless violation of a citizen’s right to the privacy of communications,” after Senator Risa Hontiveros showed during a privilege speech what she said were his text messages urging a speedy filing of cases against her to a Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption member during a Senate hearing.
Without admitting that he had actually sent the messages, Aguirre said in a statement on Tuesday that text messages are “private communications” and “any unauthorized intrusion into such exchanges is illegal and betrays the Constitution.”
“I am saddened, enraged and more importantly, afraid of how our rights to the privacy of our communication can easily be disregarded and trampled upon,” he said.
He added he was “sad” because “those who violated my right to the privacy of communication and the people who subsequently trumpeted it, did so in the very hallowed halls of the Senate itself,” noting that “any resource person invited by the Senate (was) now a potential victim.”
Without naming Hontiveros, he said the fact that a “public servant will conveniently resort to the protective mantle of a privilege speech makes it more despicable and diabolical.”
He added “any self-respecting member of the media should condemn this dastardly act of a supposed brethren in the profession.”
“The media should not let the unscrupulous acts of a few tainted ones destroy the nobility and purity that is still present in the majority of its ranks,” he said.
Resignation
As for Hontiveros’ calls for him to resign, Aguirre said no one was stopping them from doing this but that ultimately, “only the President can accept my resignation.”
“In closing, allow me to repeat this warning. If it could be done to me, it could be done to anybody. Everyone could be targeted. No one is safe. And that should really scare all of us,” he said.
On Monday, Hontiveros showed photos of Aguirre texting during the Senate hearing into alleged extrajudicial killings.
She showed a zoomed in version of Aguirre’s cellphone, which she said showed the justice secretary’s text about “expedit(ing) cases” against her.
She said the message was sent to former Rep. Jacinto Paras, now a VACC member.