Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday filed a formal complaint before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against individuals behind a viral video featuring false claims by former Senate witness Michael Maurilio.
“This is only the first step, and with the guidance of my legal team, we will determine who else should be charged and what additional charges may be filed against them,” she said in an interview.
The video, which surfaced after Maurilio allegedly sought police help, contains misleading narratives about Senate investigations into religious leader Apollo Quiboloy.
Hontiveros asked the NBI to identify and prosecute those responsible for producing and circulating the video, which also revealed private information about other witnesses and Senate staff.
The complaint includes accusations of cyber libel and targets over a dozen individuals, including several social media personalities.
Named in the filing are vloggers Krizette Chu, Jay Sonza, Sass Rogando Sasot, Trixie Cruz Angeles, and “Banat By,” among others, whom Hontiveros accused of spreading and embellishing the disinformation.
Hontiveros said the sudden appearance of “Pagtanggol Valiente,” the YouTube account where the retraction video was posted, suggests a coordinated campaign to discredit Senate witnesses and derail ongoing investigations.
The senator said she remains open to criticism as a public servant but draws the line at deliberate lies and orchestrated disinformation.
She urged the Philippine National Police in Davao to locate Maurilio and ensure his safety amid fears he may still be in danger.
“If Michael Maurilio was truly kidnapped and is now in serious danger because of it, all the more reason for the PNP (Philippine National Police) to locate and rescue him from whatever threat he may be facing,” she said.
Despite the situation, Hontiveros said Maurilio still has to explain and take responsibility for his participation in the disinformation campaign.
“I will never, ever tolerate this kind of lying, especially dangerous lies like these, because the targets weren’t just me. The targets were the witnesses, my staff, and the Senate itself,” she said.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Hontiveros sues uploaders of retraction video, disinformation peddlers on social media”
