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Senator Risa Hontiveros leads a Senate hearing on March 4, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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20250304-senate-subcommitee-hearing

RG Cruz

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/175637045315120250304-hontiveros-risa-guo-senate-hearing-MT-10.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator Risa Hontiveros leads a Senate hearing on March 4, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — An ethics complaint was filed Thursday against Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros for alleged witness tampering, which she said she was ready to refute with “receipts”. </p><p>The complaint lodged by former Congressman Jacinto Paras and lawyers Ferdinand Topacio and Manuelito Luna cited the claim of a Senate witness that Hontiveros supposedly paid him P1 million to supposedly lie about alleged abuses by Kingdom of Jesus Christ Leader Apollo Quiboloy and the supposed firearms that former president Rodrigo Duterte received from him. </p><p>The witness, Michael Maurillio, recanted his claims in June 2025.</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>The complaint also cited the claim of Mark Clarence Manalo that Hontiveros supposedly bribed him through an aide to testify against Pharmally, the pharmaceutical firm that bagged pandemic contracts. </p><p>A third incident included in the complaint was the claim that the senator hid three children who were supposed to be witnesses in the Senate investigation of the so-called <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/28/duterte-denies-responsibility-for-death-of-kian-delos-santos-2013">Kian delos Santos case.</a>  </p><p>&quot;We respectfully allege that the above actions of Senator Hontiveros-Baraquel constitute ‘disorderly behavior,’ a subject proper for investigation by the Senate pursuant to Article VI, Section 16(3) of the 1987 Constitution,” the complaint said. </p><p>“No less than the integrity of the Senate is at stake in this complaint where the ‘disorderly behavior’ of a senator is being raised and complained of,” it added. </p><p>Topacio alleged that Hontiveros “has been getting away with so much for so long a time.”</p><p>“Pattern na po ito eh. Someone has to tell her, stop, hindi na tama ito,” he said. </p><p>Paras added, &quot;Andito po kami kasi ang parating ginagamit ngayon na salita accountability So parating sinasabi ni Sen. Risa Hontiveros the Vice President should be accountable but dapat naman kung may offenses ka rin, allegations of offenses, you are also accountable.”   </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;RECYCLED LIES, HARASSMENT&#x27;</strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>Speaking ahead of the filing, Hontiveros expressed readiness to face the complaint, which is expected to be referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics.</p><p>&quot;Recycled lies, harassment. Ano pa nga ba? Ako naman ay buong loob kong haharapin yung complaint nila once na mabasa ko.&quot; Hontiveros said of the complaint. &quot;So, kung anuman yung kanilang dahilan, basta&#x27;t kung may ethics complaint, gaya ng nabanggit ko, babasahin ko yan at haharapin ng buo.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Bothered in the sense na ang dami-daming namin trabaho ang ginagawa dito sa Senate. May mga drama pa dyan, pero sige lang, di po kami magpapa-distract dyan. Basta pagka-file nila, babasahin  namin ang complaint at haharapin namin ang buong-buo. &quot;</p><p>The ethics panel has not been constituted and no chair has been elected by the Senate for the 20th Congress. </p><p>Hontiveros presumes fairness from whoever will be elected amid talk that Sen. Robinhood Padilla could chair the panel. Padilla belongs to the PDP Laban party, where Topacio serves as spokesperson. </p><p>&quot;I always presume regularity, good faith on the part of sino man sa amin mag-chair ng alin mang komite. But just as an aside also, usually — hindi lagi, pero usually — hindi miyembro ng majority ang nag-chair ng Ethics. But that&#x27;s just usual. In the end, kung sinong i-elect na chair ng komite, siya yung mag-chair,&quot; she said. </p><p>Hontiveros said she has proof to debunk the allegations.</p><p>&quot;Kumpleto rin po kami ng resibo tungkol sa lahat ng mga witnesses o whistleblowers na lumapit sa opisina ko or lumapit sa aming komite sa alinmang imbestigasyon,&quot; she said. </p><p>&quot;Kaya panatag ako na buong-buo kong mahaharap ang anumang detalye ng complaint nila, kung yan ang sinasabi nilang grounds nila. Ewan ko sinong guilty sa witness tampering. Hindi yata ako.&quot;</p><p>Under Senate rules, the Committee on Ethics and Privileges should have seven members. It has jurisdiction over all matters relating to the conduct, rights, privileges, safety, dignity, integrity and reputation of the Senate and its members.</p><p>Under the 1987 Constitution, each house of Congress may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of all its members, suspend or expel a member. A penalty of suspension, when imposed, shall not exceed 60 days.</p><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>An ethics complaint was filed Thursday against Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros for alleged witness tampering, which she said she was ready to refute with “receipts”.</p>

An ethics complaint was filed Thursday against Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros for alleged witness tampering, which she said she was ready to refute with “receipts”.

Hontiveros faces ethics complaint, denies witness tampering

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Hontiveros faces ethics complaint, denies witness tampering

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 28, 2025 04:45 PM PHT

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