Text messages not covered by wiretap law — Lacson

Text messages and other contents of digital communications are not covered by Republic Act 4200 or the Anti-Wiretapping Law, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said yesterday.

Lacson, who chairs the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, issued the statement after Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II filed separate complaints against Sen. Risa Hontiveros before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office and the Senate ethics committee for violating his right to privacy and the anti-wiretapping law.

“Latest developments in digital communications technology are not covered, so the scope and coverage of the law (RA 4200) must really be expanded,” Lacson told reporters.

Aguirre alleged that Hontiveros had asked a photographer to deliberately take a picture of his phone while he was exchanging text messages with former congressman Jacinto Paras during a Senate hearing where she uncovered a plot to prosecute her.

Hontiveros insisted the taking of the picture of Aguirre’s mobile phone was not intentional.

She accused the justice secretary of diverting the issue from the administration’s efforts to stifle the opposition.

Liberal Party president Sen. Francis Pangilinan said the filing of charges against Hontiveros “is a clear case of political harassment and intimidation – one in a continuing attempt by the administration and its allies to silence the opposition.”

He said Sens. Leila de Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV have been victimized by the administration’s harassment.

Pangilinan said Aguirre’s exposed text conversation proved that the filing of charges against Hontiveros had long been planned.