Hontiveros hits back at ‘fake news,’ sues Maurillo, vloggers for cyber libel

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday filed criminal complaints for cyber libel before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against former Senate witness Michael Maurillo and several media personalities over a viral video she said contained false and damaging allegations.

The complaints stem from a video in which Maurillo made unverified claims against the senator and the Senate’s investigation into alleged crimes linked to detained religious leader Apollo Quiboloy. The video also publicly revealed the identities of protected witnesses and Senate staff, later amplified by vloggers and social media personalities.

Named in the complaint were lawyer Ferdinand Topacio and vloggers Byron Cristobal (known as Banat By), Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celis, Krizette Chu, Jay Sonza, and Alex Distor, also known as Tio Moreno.

“This is not just about fake news — it’s a deliberate attack on those who bravely came forward to speak the truth,” Hontiveros said at a press briefing.

She said the case seeks to hold both the original source and those responsible for spreading disinformation accountable.

The senator also questioned Maurillo’s credibility, citing a June 2023 message in which he claimed he had been kidnapped by the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC). She said authorities were deployed to look into the claim, but the investigation has since gone quiet.

“We need to know whether he was coerced or is part of a larger effort to undermine the Senate’s work,” she said.

Hontiveros warned that her legal team remains prepared to take further legal action should the disinformation persist.

“Accountability is essential — whether for the source of lies or those who amplify them,” she said.