Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan. (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis Pangilinan on Tuesday condemned the “resurrected” wiretapping case filed against fellow opposition senator, Risa Hontiveros, saying it should have been “dismissed right away.”
In a statement, Pangilinan rallied behind Hontiveros, who earlier posted bail at the Pasay City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 46 after she was recently indicted over the wiretapping case filed by former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II in 2017.
“We stand in solidarity with Sen. Risa Hontiveros as she faces the wire-tapping case resurrected after years in slumber. Kaisa ako ni Sen. Risa sa laban niyang ito [We rally behind her in this fight],” Pangilinan said.
“Halatang harassment ang pagbuhay ng kasong ito [It’s obvious that the resurrection of this case is harassment]. The case should have been dismissed right away. Walang wire na tinap [No wire was tapped]. Nasilip lang mismo sa phone ni Vitaliano Aguirre ang pagpilit niyang kasuhan si Sen. Risa sa Senado mismo habang may pagdinig [It just so happened that it the messages on Vitaliano Aguirre’s phone was captured, showing he wants cases filed against Sen. Risa,” the senator added.
Pangilinan said Hontiveros is protected by legislative immunity since she made a photo of these text messages public in a privilege speech during a Senate session.
“Dapat ibasura ang kasong isinampa sa kanya [The case filed against her should be junked],” Pangilinan added.
It was in October 2017 when Aguirre filed a complaint against Hontiveros before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office, alleging that she violated Republic Act 4200 or the Anti-Wiretapping Law for making public a photograph of his supposed text messages to a former lawmaker that was inadvertently captured during a Senate hearing in September of the same year.
The text messages showed that Aguirre was supposedly plotting to bring cases against Hontiveros.
Aguirre had blasted the senator for invoking legislative immunity in committing what he branded as an “illegal act” when she delivered her privilege speech.
Aside from the alleged violation of the wiretapping law, the former justice secretary had also accused Hontiveros of invading his right to privacy.
After posting a P36,000 bail on Monday for her provisional liberty, Hontiveros said the wiretapping case against her is “unfair, unjust, and a sham.”
“Desidido akong labanan ang pangha-harass na ito [I’m determined to fight this harassment],” she added.