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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Sen Hontiveros files before DOJ cyber libel complaints vs Senate witness, 6 vloggers

Sen Hontiveros files before DOJ cyber libel complaints vs Senate witness, 6 vloggers

Published Jul 9, 2025 01:17 pm
Senator Risa Hontiveros filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday, July 9, cyber libel complaints against former Senate witness Michael Maurillo and six vloggers over allegations that she forced persons to testify against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy.
Accompanied by her lawyers, Hontiveros filed two separate complaints that accused the respondents of libel under Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) in relation to Section 4(c)(4) of Republic Act (RA) No. 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Aside from Maurillo, named in the complaints were lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, Byron Cristobal alias Banat By, Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz, Krizette Chu, Jose “Jay” Sonza, and Alex Destor alias Tio Moreno.
Hontiveros said she filed the complaints because the respondents uploaded videos or added to the spread of lies against her.
In an interview after the filing, the senator said:
“Hindi lang po ito kaso ng fake news, dear colleagues. Ito ay sistematiko at sadyang pag-atake pati sa mga witnesses, mga taong naglakas loob sa kabila ng kanilang takot na sabihin ang katotohanan. Sinusubukan nilang ibaon ang mga totoong kwento ng mga taong ito at ng mga taong tumutulong sa kanila. Hinding hindi nila pwedeng gawin ito sa mga taong ito kaya po inihain namin ngayong araw ang mga kasong ito (This is not just a case of fake news, dear colleagues. This is a systematic and intentional attack against the witnesses who were brave to overcome their fears and tell the truth. They are trying to bury the truth of these people and the persons who are helping them. They can’t do this to these people and that’s why we filed the complaints).”
She also said that more complaints will soon be filed as her office and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) continue to gather more information.
Last July 2, Hontiveros filed a complaint-affidavit before NBI which she asked to probe for cyber libel the social media accounts of Pagtanggol Valiente which released the June 24 video of Maurillo
She said that in the video, Maurillo -- using his real name and revealing his identity, falsely accused her of paying him P1,000,000 to allegedly fabricate the testimony against Quiboloy, former president Rodrigo Duterte, and former Davao City mayor and now Vice President Sara Duterte.
She also alleged that Maurillo claimed his original affidavit was altered by her staff to insert lies about sexual abuse and violence, and that he was offered additional money to implicate Senators Bong Go and Bato dela Rosa.
Aside from the libelous statements made against her, Hontiveros said that Maurillo also indiscriminately named members of her staff and identified other witnesses involved in the Senate investigation, and thus, violating their right to privacy and recklessly endangering their safety.
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