Tinanggihan kahapon ni Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II ang panawagan ni Senador Risa Hontiveros na mag-resign siya.

“As to the call for me to resign, let me say for the nth time that for as long as I have the trust and for as long as I enjoy the confidence of President Duterte who appointed me, I will continue serving our people as the steward of your DoJ,” saad sa pahayag ni Aguirre.

“You can call on me to resign, no one is stopping you, but only the President can accept my resignation,” pagdidiin niya.

Sa privilege speech nitong Lunes, nanawagan si Hontiveros kay Aguirre na mag-resign na ito bunsod ng pagdidiin sa kanya at sa ilang miyembro ng oposisyon.

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Ipinakita ng senadora ang ebidensiya, isang screenshot na kuha umano ng isang photographer, ng palitan ng text message ni Aguirre kay dating Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto “Jing” Paras.

Dahil dito, kinondena ni Aguirre si Hontiveros dahil sa pagkuha ng litrato sa kanyang mga text, na pinaniniwalaan niyang sinadya nang naimbitahan siya sa pagdinig ng Senate Public Order and Dangerous Drugs committee nitong Setyembre 5.

“Text messages are private communications. Any unauthorized intrusion into such exchanges is illegal and betrays the Constitution,” ani Aguirre at sinabing ito ay paglabag sa Republic Act 4200, ang Anti-Wire Tapping Act.

“I condemn to the highest degree this shameless violation of a citizen’s right to the privacy of communications,” galit na pahayag ni Aguirre. - Jeffrey G. Damicog