Risa to ex-witness’ backers: Be afraid of the truth
Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Monday said her legal team would file a complaint with the National Bureau of Investigation against those behind the video of a former Senate witness, who claimed he was paid to speak against the Dutertes and televangelist Apollo Quiboloy.
Hontiveros was referring to Michael Maurilio, alias “Rene,” who claimed in a video that he was paid P1 million to testify against former President Rodrigo Duterte, Vice President Sara Duterte and Quiboloy during a Senate hearing against the televangelist last year.
Hontiveros has denied the allegations and addressed the people behind the now-circulating video: “You don’t scare us. But you should be scared of the truth. Because no one gets to endanger our witnesses, my staff, or harass the Senate with impunity. We will not let this slide. We will fight back.”
She will file the complaint on Wednesday and has sought the NBI’s assistance in investigating those responsible for the video and “systematically circulating it in their disinformation networks.”
“This is only step one and we will take further decisive action, including the filing of criminal complaints. For the witnesses and victims, for the Senate, we will demand justice,” she added.
Debunking witness’ claims
Hontiveros also presented evidence to debunk Maurilio’s claims, including copies of emails sent to her office proving that the witness reached out to them first.
“On Dec. 14, 2023, he emailed my office. He said he was a former worker of Pastor Quiboloy and that he left the organization because of abuse. He also claimed that he only had the guts to tell his story now because he used to be afraid that he would be killed,” she said.
“Because we take some time to vet emails, when he felt his emails were ignored, he messaged us two more times: on Dec. 15, 2023, and Jan. 28, 2024. Why is he saying now that we forced him? Again, it was him who reached out repeatedly. He freely and voluntarily offered his testimony and assistance,” she added.
Hontiveros said Maurilio, before he could face the Senate panel on women on Feb. 19, 2024, sought her office’s help for financial assistance to buy a laptop.
The request, however, was denied due to a “strict policy of not providing financial assistance to potential witnesses and witnesses.”
Frantic messages
Days after he appeared before the Senate, Maurilio once again informed Hontiveros’ office that he was being asked by some members of Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) to recant his testimony “to embarrass” the senator.
“He specifically mentioned that he was being asked to recant that he saw the Dutertes. He told us he was promised huge amounts of money, that he would be taken into a safe place, and that he would be given a good lawyer. They are accusing us of paying a witness, but it appears to me that they are the ones doing that,” she said.
Hontiveros disclosed that Maurilio, before his video was posted online, again sent a message, claiming that he was kidnapped and held in Glory Mountain.
“On June 22 and 23 […] just last week, Michael was the one frantically messaging my staff. He said: ‘Help me, I have been kidnapped and being threatened by [KOJC], I’m held in captivity at the Glory Mountain … send rescue now,’” she told reporters.
The lawmaker said they took the message seriously and immediately forwarded it to the Philippine National Police in Davao for immediate action. The video came out soon after the PNP took action.
Accountability
The senator said it was possible that Maurilio was also a victim but that “there’s still a need for him to be accountable for his lies.”
Maurilio previously testified that he was subjected to forced labor and physical abuse. He also said that he was cautioned against talking about KOJC—especially things he learned at Glory Mountain —and was threatened that he would be jailed and would “disappear from Earth” if he did.
Quiboloy is facing child abuse and human trafficking cases before Quezon City and Pasig City courts, respectively. He was arrested on Sept. 8, 2024, and is held at Pasig City Jail Male Dormitory. He is also facing several criminal charges in the United States. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH
