Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday, Aug. 28, dismissed as “recycled lies” and “harassment” the ethics complaint filed against her by a group led by lawyer Ferdinand Topacio.

“Recycled lies, harassment. Ano pa nga ba? Ako naman ay buong loob kong haharapin yung complaint nila once na mabasa ko (What else is new? I will wholeheartedly face their complaint once I’ve read it),” Hontiveros replied, when asked about the complaint during the Kapihan Sa Senado media forum.

When asked if she believed someone else was behind the move, Hontiveros said, “Ano ba yung track record nila? Laging may nasa likod din (What’s their track record? There’s always someone behind them, too).”

The senator downplayed concerns about the complaint, and said it would not distract her from her legislative duties.

“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 (Bothered in the sense that we have so much work to do here in the Senate. There’s drama on the side, but that’s fine, we won’t let it distract us. Once they file it, we’ll read the complaint and face it fully),” she said.

Asked about allegations of “witness tampering” as the basis for the ethics complaint, Hontiveros said her office has complete documentation of its dealings with whistleblowers.

“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 (We also have complete documentation regarding all the witnesses or whistleblowers who came to my office or approached our committee in any investigation),” she said.

“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 (That’s why I’m confident I can fully address any detail of their complaint if that’s what they claim as their grounds. I don’t know who’s guilty of witness tampering, but it’s certainly not me),” she added.

Hontiveros was also asked whether politics played a role in the move, given her openness to run in the 2028 elections.

“Maya’t maya na pag-uusapan niyang politika. But yung mga proseso dito sa Senado, may sariling integridad yan eh. Hindi maliit na bagay ang isang ethics complaint. Seryoso yan, kaya dapat sineseryoso. Ibig sabihin, puno ng katotohanan (Politics will always be talked about, but the processes here in the Senate have their own integrity. An ethics complaint is no small matter—it’s serious and should be treated seriously, meaning it must be full of truth),” she said.

“In the same way, yung legislative work namin sa bills, sa imbestigasyon. And Diyos ko, magsisimula kami ng budget debates. Isa sa pinakamabigat na trabaho namin taon-taon. And even yung na-archive na impeachment complaint (In the same way, our legislative work on bills and investigations—and my goodness, we’re about to start the budget debates, one of our heaviest tasks each year—not to mention the impeachment complaint that was archived),” she added.

Hontiveros emphasized that the Senate should focus on pressing issues, particularly the economy and corruption scandals like the alleged flood control scam.

“At lalo na ang dami pong mga issue, lalo na yung sa ekonomiya, na dapat yun talaga ang bigyan namin ng prayoridad. Kaya nga naging napakainit nitong flood control scam, diba? Dahil, feel na feel na mga kababayan natin ang korapsyon sa gitna ng paghihirap nila (And especially with so many issues, particularly about the economy, those are what we should really prioritize. That’s why this flood control scam became such a hot topic, right? Because our fellow citizens can truly feel the corruption amid their hardships),” she added.

“So, kung anuman yung kanilang dahilan, basta't kung may ethics complaint, gaya ng nabanggit ko, babasahin ko yan at haharapin ng buo (So, whatever their reason is, as I said, if there’s an ethics complaint, I’ll read it and face it fully),” Hontiveros said.

Topacio submitted the complaint before the Office of the Senate Secretary since the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges is yet to be formed. In the complaint-affidavit, they prayed that it be referred to the committee and, after due process, recommend the proper punishment for Hontiveros, including her "suspension and expulsion from the Senate".

Hontiveros filed a complaint in July before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against those behind the video of Michael Maurillo, who claimed that she coerced witnesses to testify against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy.