Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday filed cyberlibel complaints against a former Senate witness, a lawyer and several social media personalities over a viral video accusing her of coercing testimony against the Dutertes and religious leader Apollo Quiboloy.
Filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ), Hontiveros named former witness Michael Maurillo, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio and vloggers Byron Cristobal (alias Banat By), Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz, Krizette Chu, Jose “Jay” Sonza and Alex Destor (alias Tio Moreno) as respondents.
“This is not just a case of fake news,” Hontiveros said during a press conference. “This is a systematic and deliberate attack, even against witnesses—people who found the courage to speak their truth despite fear.”
The complaint stemmed from a video posted on the YouTube and Facebook platforms of “Pagtanggol Valiente,” in which Maurillo claimed that Hontiveros paid him P1 million to testify against former President Rodrigo Duterte, Vice President Sara Duterte and Quiboloy. He also accused the senator of coercion.
Hontiveros denied the allegations, saying Maurillo had contacted her office on June 22 and 23—days before the video was uploaded—claiming he had been kidnapped and was being held at Glory Mountain by members of Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
“Coincidentally, June 24 was the date when the video was uploaded,” she said. “We immediately referred his request for rescue to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Davao. But even as they began taking action, the videos started circulating.”
The cyberlibel complaint followed a separate request filed by Hontiveros at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) last week, seeking to identify and charge the individuals responsible for creating and disseminating the video.
In her NBI request, Hontiveros also named vloggers Krizette Chu, Jay Sonza, Sass Rogando Sasot, Trixie Cruz-Angeles and Banat By as part of those allegedly spreading disinformation against her.
Asked about the implications of suing social media personalities, Hontiveros said her legal team is confident there is sufficient evidence to support the charges.
“These attacks will not go unchallenged,” she said. “There must be accountability for those who manipulate information to malign others.”