JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Wednesday said he will file several complaints, including an ethics complaint before the Senate, against Senator Risa Hontiveros.
In a text message, Aguirre said that aside from the complaint to be filed before the Senate ethics committee next week, he will also file a criminal complaint against the senator for violation of the Anti-Wire Tapping Act.
Aguirre said he also file a civil case for violation of Bill of Rights on Privacy of Communications for allegedly violating his "constitutional right to privacy of communication."
Hontiveros in her privilege speech on Monday presented before the Senate photos of Aguirre's text messages to a certain "Cong. Jing," believed to be a member of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corrupting (VACC).
Aguirre in the said conversation was asking Cong Jing, whom Hontiveros claimed to be former Negros Oriental Representative Jacinto "Jing" Paras, to expedite the cases to be filed against the senator.
In a statement on Tuesday, Aguirre called Hontiveros "unethical."
He also hit Hontiveros for using the photograph, which was obtained illegally, to call for his resignation.
"Beyond the issue of legality is the issue of decency. Anybody who uses the fruits of an unconstitutional or an illegal act is bereft of decency," Aguirre said.
The Justice Secretary said he will not resign as long as long as President Rodrigo Duterte trusts him. (SunStar Philippines)