DOJ files cyberlibel raps vs. alias Rene with Pasay court

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday said it has filed cyberlibel charges against Michael Maurillo, the former Senate witness who claimed he was influenced to testify against former President Rodrigo Duterte and others, with a Pasay court.

“This has been filed already,” Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said.

Fadullon said the DOJ recommended Maurillo to be indicted in January.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by Senator Risa Hontiveros in July 2025.

In one video posted on Facebook, Maurillo previously claimed that Hontiveros made him speak against Duterte, Vice President Sara Duterte, and detained pastor Apollo Quiboloy. 

He said that everything he and other witnesses stated in the hearings of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality was fabricated.

Maurillo previously testified in a Senate hearing that Quiboloy hurt him and that he was sexually abused by several KOJC members. He also said he witnessed the Dutertes carrying firearms when visiting Quiboloy.

Meanwhile, the DOJ junked a separate cyberlibel complaint filed by Hontiveros against lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, Bryon Cristobal, or Banat By, Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz, Krizette “Kiffy” Chu, Jose “Jay” Sonza, and Alex Destor or Tio Moreno. —LDF, GMA Integrated News