Palace says 'better' if alias Rene will file charges after recantation

Malacañang on Thursday said it would be better if former Senate witness Michael Maurillo or alias Rene will file charges, following his claims that he was "influenced" to testify against the Dutertes and detained pastor Apollo Quiboloy. 

At a press conference, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro was asked for a reaction to the call of Vice President Sara Duterte for Maurillo to file charges after his recant.

''If there will be a complaint filed by Michael Maurilio, it is better for him to file charges, if there are issues, regarding alleged fake witnesses. Because, through a case, through a trial, and through a cross-examination, we will know the truth,'' Castro said.

''Ang trial importante para malaman ang katotohanan kung may anomalya ba. Hindi dapat nagdi-dismiss ang kaso lamang through technicalities. So, mas maganda makapag-file ng case si Michael Maurilio... malaman kung siya ba’y nagsasabi nang totoo o hindi,'' she added.

(A trial is important to know the truth, if there are anomalies. Cases shouldn't be dismissed through technicalities. It's better if he files cases so we will know if he's telling the truth or not.) 

Before his recantation, Rene testified before the Senate committee chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros that he witnessed the Dutertes carrying firearms from Quiboloy's property.

Hontiveros on Wednesday filed separate cyber libel complaints with the Department of Justice (DOJ) against a lawyer, five social media personalities, and alias Rene.

Rene, in a video posted on Facebook, alleged that he was paid by Hontiveros to tell lies against Quiboloy and the Dutertes.

The senator, in return, called the video "fake news" and "witness tampering" as she asserted that the former Senate witness was not coerced to testify in the hearing. 

Meanwhile, the Vice President said that Rene had interactions with supposed witnesses in the case of her father, Rodrigo, before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

The Duterte patriarch was arrested in the Philippines by local authorities on March 11, based on a warrant of arrest issued by the ICC.

He is currently detained in the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague for charges of crimes against humanity for the extrajudicial killings during his administration's war on drugs. —VAL, GMA Integrated News