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Hontiveros to file NBI complaint vs people behind alyas Rene video
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday said her legal team will file a complaint with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against those behind the circulating video of a man who claimed that he was influenced to testify against detained pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
Hontiveros was referring to the video of Michael Maurilio or alias "Rene," who alleged that he was paid by the lawmaker to speak lies against Quiboloy, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Vice President Sara Duterte during a hearing of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality.
The senator, in return, called the video “fake news” and “witness tampering” as she presented proof in a press conference that alias Rene was not coerced to testify against Quiboloy and the Dutertes.
Senator Risa Hontiveros says that her legal team will file a complaint before the NBI against people behind the video of alias “Rene:” ‘Sa mga nasa likod ng video na ito, you have crossed a line. Sobra na kayo.’ @gmanews pic.twitter.com/S9lehcIrK0
— Giselle Ombay (@giselleombay_) June 30, 2025
“Sa mga nasa likod ng video na ito, you have crossed the line. Sobra na kayo. Dahil doon (To those behind this video, you have crossed the line. This is too much. Because of this), I have consulted with my legal team and on Wednesday, we will file a complaint before the NBI and seek their assistance in investigating the people responsible for this video, and those systematically circulating it in their disinformation networks,” the senator said.
“This is only step one and we will take further decisive action, including the filing of criminal complaints. Para sa mga testigo at biktima, at para sa Senado, maniningil kami ng hustisya,” she added.
(We will demand justice for the witnesses and victims, and for the Senate.)
In February last year, a man identified as alias Rene was presented as a witness in the Senate committee hearing chaired by Hontiveros on the alleged abuses of the Quiboloy-led religious group, Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
The man claimed that Quiboloy hurt him, and that he was sexually abused by several KOJC members.
Moreover, he said he witnessed Rodrigo and Sara Duterte carrying firearms when they visited Quiboloy.
According to Hontiveros, Rene was the one who approached her office to testify “freely and voluntarily.” She presented screenshots of his emails, the first of which was sent on December 14, 2023, where he said that he left the KOJC because of alleged abuses.
The senator said that Rene even asked if her office offers financial assistance to witnesses as he needed to buy a new laptop.
“Malinaw ang sagot namin sa kanya [our answer was clear]. Our office has a strict policy of not providing financial assistance to potential witness and witnesses. He knew that. And yet now, on video, he claims we gave him P1 million? That is a lie and he knows it,” she continued.
Hontiveros said she would not be surprised if the KOJC paid Rene to recant his statements.
She also recalled that last week before the video was released, Rene sought for the senator’s help as he was allegedly kidnapped and detained at Glory Mountain in Davao City. The senator said his messages were forwarded to the Philippine National Police-Davao for immediate action.
“This is the real pattern here: After testifying in the Senate, witnesses are harassed and threatened, and then, suddenly, flipped. So, let’s call this what it is—witness tampering, fake news, psychological warfare,” Hontiveros said.
The lawmaker admitted that Rene might just be a victim or was just used by someone else to do the video, but stressed that he also has to face the consequences of his actions.
She also said that other witnesses in the hearing reached out to her to express their willingness to prove that they were not forced to testify against Quiboloy.
The Davao City-based religious leader is currently detained at Pasig City Jail. He is facing a non-bailable qualified human trafficking charge under Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. 9208, as amended,
He is also facing charges under Section 5(b) and Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
