Aguirre threatens fresh libel raps vs Hontiveros

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre on Tuesday said that he will file a libel case against Sen. Risa Hontiveros for calling him a "reliable friend" of criminal masterminds.

In a text message, Aguirre said that Hontiveros' remarks are "very defamatory."

"I saw and heard what she said," Aguirre said, adding that a libel case may be filed against Hontiveros "very soon."

The Justice chief was reacting to a Hontiveros statement where she called for his resignation. She said that Aguirre transformed his department into his "personal kitchen."

"It is where he cooks fake news and fake cases against the opposition. It is also where he cooks the exoneration of killers, big-time plunderers and drug peddlers," the senator added.

Hontiveros issued the statement following the controversial dismissal of drug raps against "big-time" drug lords Peter Lim, Kerwin Espinosa, Peter Co and a dozen others.

A few days later, it was also revealed that businesswoman Janet Napoles, believed to be the brains behind the multi-billion pork barrel scam, has been given provisional government protection.

This is not the first time the two have been involved in a word war and have sought the courts.

RELATED: Aguirre and Hontiveros come to court

Last year, Aguirre filed three counts of violation of the wiretapping law against Hontiveros. The case stemmed from the Hontiveros, during a privilege speech, showed a photo that captured Aguirre holding his phone while exchanging a text message with a certain "Cong Jing."

It was later revealed that Aguirre was sending a message to Jing Paras, a member of the Volunteers against Crime and Corruption.

READ: Aguirre files wiretapping raps vs Hontiveros

Aguirre said that Hontiveros "intended to maliciously use" the photo against him."

Last year, Aguirre incorrectly claimed that members of the political opposition met in Marawi City briefly before the Maute local terrorist group attacked in May 2017.
The Justice chief was called out for allegedly using Facebook for his intelligence gathering after it was found that a photograph that allegedl proved the meeting was taken in the Visayas before the 2016 elections.

READ: Opposition twits Aguirre for 'Facebook intel'