Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Sen. Risa Hontiveros files cyber libel complaints at the DOJ against individuals involved in the making or dissemination of the viral video of former Senate witness Michael Maurilio. Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Risa

Adrian Ayalin

Job Manahan

Pia Gutierrez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752035513954516920660_1217088667133054_6924388448595525775_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. Risa Hontiveros files cyber libel complaints at the DOJ against individuals involved in the making or dissemination of the viral video of former Senate witness Michael Maurilio. Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday filed a cyber libel complaint at the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Michael Maurilio alias &quot;Rene,&quot; the former Senate witness against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/30/-you-have-crossed-the-line-hontiveros-to-sue-people-behind-fake-video-of-senate-witness-1350">&#x27;You&#x27;ve crossed the line&#x27;: Hontiveros to sue people behind video of KOJC witness</a></div><p>Maurilio had claimed that he was bribed by Hontiveros to testify against Quiboloy, former President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte.</p><p>Hontiveros also filed a separate cyber libel complaint against lawyer Ferdinand Topacio and social media personalities Byron Cristobal or “Banat By”, Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz, Krizette “Kiffy” Chu, Jose “Jay” Sonza, and Alex Destor or “Tio Moreno”.</p><p>“Tiwala ang legal team ko na may sapat na katibayan para doon sa akusasyon po ng cyber liber, pagmudmod man ng video ni Michael Maurilio o pagdagdag, pagkalat ng sarili nilang kasinungalingan, tungkol sa akin, tungkol sa mga witnesses, tungkol sa staff ko at tungkol sa Senado,” Hontiveros said.</p><p>Last week, Hontiveros also filed a complaint-affidavit at the NBI against social media personalities in relation to the video of Maurilio, where he made the allegation.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/2/hontiveros-sues-12-people-for-cyberlibel-over-kojc-witness-videos-1219">Hontiveros sues 12 people for cyberlibel over KOJC witness videos</a></div><p>While Maurilio was not included in the NBI complaint-affidavit, Hontiveros said there is now reason to include him in the DOJ complaint.</p><p>“Posibleng biktima pa rin siya hanggang ngayon, iyon ang hinihingi ko ng kalinawan sa NBI, pero malinaw din na gumawa siya ng video na in-upload at pinasisinungalingan iyong higit isang dosena pang witnesses tulad niya dati, iba pang witnesses laban kay Apollo Quiboloy at KOJC,” Hontiveros said.</p><p>Hontiveros emphasized that she values freedom of speech, following earlier criticisms from the individuals who were included in the NBI complaint.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/26/hontiveros-denies-claim-of-alleged-witness-who-says-he-was-paid-to-testify-vs-quiboloy-dutertes-1406">Hontiveros readies ‘serious legal response’ vs witness who says he was &#x27;paid&#x27; to testify vs Quiboloy, Dutertes</a></div><p>“Lifelong na naniniwala ako at nagtataguyod ng freedom of speech, freedom of expression. At the same time, malinaw ako mula sa simula, hindi iyan nag-e-extend sa pagkalat ng mga kasinungalingan na maglalagay pa sa panganib sa ibang tao, and in this case dyan sa pinaka-vulnerable na mga tao, mga witnesses,” Hontiveros said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘CHILLING EFFECT’ </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Celiz said the complaint should be considered an attack on free speech and freedom of expression. He added that it was a form of harassment against “political commentators” like him.</p><p>“Complaints or legal actions, such as cyber libel suits, can create a chilling effect, manifestation of intentional intimidation, thereby discouraging people from expressing themselves freely,” he said in a statement..</p><p>“This can lead to self-censorship, undermining the democratic process and sell-out or compromise of assertion of accountability among public officials, the likes of Sen. Hontiveros,” he added.</p><p>Vlogger Tio Moreno said Hontiveros’ actions just showed she was “exposed.”</p><p>He said he never personally knew Rene.</p><p>“To set the record straight: I did not upload or distribute the video. I simply wrote a summary of Alias Rene’s testimony—information that is already publicly available,” he said.</p><p>“My post contained no additional claims or distortions. It was a straightforward summary, paired with commentary on Risa Hontiveros’ public actions, something well within my rights under the 1987 Constitution&#x27;s guarantee of free speech,” he added.</p><p>Meanwhile, Malacanang believes it would be better for Maurilio to heed the suggestion of Vice President Duterte and take his allegations to court. </p><p>“If there will be a complaint filed by Michael Maurilio, it is better for him to file charges, if there are issues, regarding alleged fake witnesses. Because, through a case, through a trial and through a cross examination, we will know the truth and tulad ng sinabi natin, ang trial importante, para malaman ang katotohanan kung may anomalya ba,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said. </p><p>“Hindi dapat nagdi-dismiss ang kaso lamang through technicalities. So, mas maganda makapag-file ng case si Michael Maurilio, kung malaman kung siya ba’y nagsasabi ng totoo o hindi.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_YkqvSadErw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eY675CbqfXs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Sen. Hontiveros emphasized that she values freedom of speech, but said that the "lies" of alias "Rene" and the vloggers are not covered by that.</p>

Sen. Hontiveros emphasized that she values freedom of speech, but said that the "lies" of alias "Rene" and the vloggers are not covered by that.

Hontiveros files cyber libel complaint vs ex-Senate witness, vloggers

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Hontiveros files cyber libel complaint vs ex-Senate witness, vloggers

Adrian Ayalin,

Job Manahan,

Pia Gutierrez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 09, 2025 12:36 PM PHT

|

Updated Jul 10, 2025 03:41 PM PHT

Read More:

Risa Hontiveros

vloggers

fake news

cyber libel

DOJ

crime

Alias Rene

KOJC

Quiboloy

Michael Maurilio

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