Sen Risa Hontiveros Likely to be Jailed at Jinggoy Estrada’s Former Detention Cell if Convicted

If proven guilty, Senator Risa Hontiveros is likely to be jailed at the same detention cell where former senator Jinggoy Estrada was jailed for more than 3 years. This is after former Negros Oriental Rep. Jing Paras and Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) recently sued the Akbayan senator for kidnapping, obstruction of justice, and wiretapping.



“We have been ordered to clean and do some renovations at the detention of Mr. (Jinggoy) Estrada. We were told to start as soon as possible, and that the next user is mostly likely a female.” An insider from Camp Crame said. If convicted, Sen. Hontiveros will be second opposition senator to be jailed, following the fate of Senator Leila de Lima.

For the kidnapping and obstruction of justice cases, Sen. Hontiveros is being accused of taking custody of minors, who were said to be witnesses in the murder case of Kian Delos Santos. The Liberal Party (LP) ally senator also allegedly refused the witnesses to be interviewed by the investigating officers while the minors are under her custody.

For the wiretapping case, Hontiveros is being accused of maliciously exposing a supposed exchange of text messages between DOJ Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre and former Rep. Paras in her privilege speech. According to opposition senator, this is the plan of the Duterte administration to hasten the case buildup against her, so she can be silenced.

After the case was filed, Sen. Hontiveros said that it is a “desperate attempt to deflect public attention away from their text conversation which caught them red-handed plotting against me during a Senate hearing inside the Senate. Bistong-bisto na, buking na buking na, nagpapalusot pa. Nais pa magtago sa likod ng mga walang batayang kaso.”



Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division ordered the release of Estrada last from his detention cell last September 16 after posting a P1.33-million bail. Back in June 2014, Estrada, along with former senators Juan Ponce and Ramon 'Bong' Revilla were accused of plunder over their alleged involvement in the multi-billion pork barrel scam.

Contributed by Salvi Dalida