Senator Risa Hontiveros has turned to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into the release and online spread of two controversial videos featuring self-proclaimed witness Michael Maurillo — videos she says are not only false but could be linked to a possible abduction.
In the footage that went viral, Maurillo claimed Hontiveros paid him to testify against Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy, as well as former president Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte. The senator has strongly denied the accusations, calling the videos “fabricated” and accusing their creators of waging a coordinated disinformation campaign against her and the Senate.
“This is just the first step,” Hontiveros said, as she filed the complaint alongside her legal counsel. She emphasized that the aim is to unmask both the creators of the videos and those responsible for magnifying the falsehoods online.
Named in the complaint are several pro-administration bloggers including Krizette Chu, Jay Sonza, Sass Rogando Sasot, Trixie Cruz-Angeles, and Banat By, as well as a new Facebook page called Pagtanggol Valiente that surfaced the day after Maurillo last made contact with her office.
The primary charge listed is cyber libel, but Hontiveros warned that more charges may follow depending on the outcome of the NBI’s investigation.
While stressing that public officials should be open to criticism, Hontiveros drew the line at “deliberate lies — especially those that intimidate witnesses and discredit institutions.” She also mentioned that unnamed public officials, including senators, were included in the complaint, though she did not disclose names.
According to the senator, Maurillo had reached out to her office on June 22 and 23, alleging he had been abducted by members of Quiboloy’s religious group and was being held at Glory Mountain in Davao. After his pleas for help, no further communication was received — until the sudden appearance of the videos days later.
“Imagine, that was just over a week ago. He asked for rescue,” Hontiveros said. “The next thing we know, these dubious videos appear.”
Her team promptly alerted the Philippine National Police in Davao, but no updates on Maurillo’s safety have been confirmed.
“If he was indeed kidnapped and is in danger, the PNP must act swiftly to secure him,” she said, stressing that Maurillo’s testimony could be crucial in identifying the people behind the disinformation and psychological pressure campaign.
While no Senate probe is currently scheduled, Hontiveros hinted that the 20th Congress may revisit earlier proposals to investigate fake news — a move once initiated by former Senator Koko Pimentel.
“This is not just about me,” she said. “This is about protecting witnesses, our staff, and the truth.”
