Wazzup Pilipinas!?
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Risa Hontiveros has launched a legal offensive against several prominent Facebook influencers, filing a cyber-libel complaint over a viral video featuring former Senate witness Michael Maurilio. The move, which has sent ripples through the Philippine online landscape, has ignited fierce debate and drawn attention to the complex intersection of free speech, disinformation, and political accountability.
On Wednesday, Senator Hontiveros lodged a complaint with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), accusing a roster of well-known online personalities of orchestrating and disseminating "dangerous lies." At the heart of the dispute is a video in which Michael Maurilio, a witness who previously testified in a Senate hearing, recanted his statements and alleged that Senator Hontiveros had bribed and coached him to fabricate testimony against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy.
"This is just the first step... we will ascertain who else should be sued," Hontiveros declared, signaling her intent to pursue all vloggers involved in spreading and embellishing Maurilio’s claims.
The Accused and Their Defense: What Did They Say?
The cyber-libel complaint specifically names several influential figures, including Krizette Chu, Jay Sonza, Sass Rogando Sasot, Trixie Cruz-Angeles, and Banat By, among others, who are alleged to have played a significant role in distributing and amplifying the contested claims. Their responses, as depicted in the provided images, offer a glimpse into the nature of their content and their defense:
Krizette Chu: In her response, Krizette asserted that she "never even shared the Michael Murillo video even once on my wall or even PM." However, she admitted to stating that Senator Hontiveros "bribed him, according to him." Chu further claimed to have shared information about lawyers filing a complaint against Hontiveros for "kidnapping and wiretapping," and also mentioned Hontiveros being the "complainant for CJ Corona." This suggests her involvement revolved around disseminating allegations of bribery and other legal complaints against the Senator, rather than directly sharing the Maurilio video itself.
Jay Sonza: While the provided image doesn't show Jay Sonza's direct response, the reason for Hontiveros suing him is stated: "Salamat kaayo Madam Chair for acknowledging that Mr. Michael Maurillo is one and the same as 'Alyas Rene' na siyang ginamit mong witness sa Senate Hearing noong Pebrero para idiin sa ibat-ibang kaso sina former Pres. Rodrigo R. Duterte, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy at sa tangkang pagsabit sa iyong kapuwa senador na sina Bong Go at Bato dela Rosa sa kaso." This indicates Sonza's alleged role in linking Maurilio (also known as "Alyas Rene") to Hontiveros's previous Senate hearing, implying that Maurilio's testimony was a fabrication aimed at implicating high-profile political figures. The text further states, "Masyadong detalyado ang mga binitawang pananalita ng ginawa mong saksi at hanggang sa mga oras na ito ay wala ni isa kang pinasinungalingan."
Sass Rogando Sasot: Sass's response questions the very premise of Hontiveros's lawsuit: "Diba dapat ang idemanda ni Risa eh yung sinasabi niyang ‘di umano na nagbayad kay Alias Rene para bumaligtad? So bakit doon sya mga nag-cocomment nagagalit?" (Shouldn't Risa be suing those who allegedly paid Alias Rene to recant? Why is she getting angry at those who are commenting on it?) This suggests Sasot's content focused on the alleged bribery of Maurilio to recant, implying that Hontiveros should target the source of the alleged bribery rather than those commenting on the situation. The image also provides context for why Hontiveros is suing Sass: "Risa, girl, hindi sila lumapit sa’yo. ‘Yung isa sa mga nabanggit ni Alias Rene, eh kakilala ko. She sent me the text messages of Mel Robles. 2023 pa ‘yan niluluto. Lisa and Mel want to bring down Quibs, and they are looking for people to buy. Then bigla kang nagkaroon ng hearing. Girl, sinasabi ko sa’yo, nilalaglag ka ng mga kakutsaba mo." This implies that Sasot is alleging a conspiracy to bring down Quiboloy, with Maurilio being part of a fabricated scheme.
Banat By: Banat By's response states, "Ako’y nagre react lang ako’y content creator lang na nagre-react at isang mamamayang pilipino na nagsasabing if this is true ay dapat talaga kayong i-ethics complain. If this is true, you should be remove in the senate." This indicates Banat By's content was in the form of a reaction to the claims, suggesting that if the allegations against Hontiveros were true, she should face ethics complaints and be removed from the Senate. The reason for Hontiveros suing Banat By is articulated as: "Alam mo, magtayao ka na lang ng agency — 'Witness Agency.' Dati na rin siyang naakusahan, pero siyempre, idi-deny niya ‘yan. Paano na ‘yung mga woke Gen Z na bilib na bilib sa Akbayan, eh ‘yung pinuno ninyo, involved di-umano – alleged – sa bribery ng mga witness?" This suggests Banat By's content implies Hontiveros's office is involved in witness bribery and questions the credibility of her actions.
While Trixie Cruz-Angeles and others are named in the article as being part of the complaint, the provided images do not include their direct responses or the specific reasons for Hontiveros suing them. However, it can be inferred they are involved in the broader alleged network disseminating similar claims. The image featuring "Rob" also mentions: "If proven true, Risa must resign—not just for the lie, but for betraying the moral high ground she claimed to own. Coz if moral authority is your brand, then moral failure should cost you the office." This suggests Rob's content also questioned Hontiveros's integrity based on the allegations. Similarly, "Tio" is being sued because: "Kung FAKE NEWS lang pala si Alias Rene, so bakit kayo naniwala sa kanya at ginawa niyo pang STAR WITNESS against Quiboloy, VP Sara, and PRRD? If falsehoods ang sinasabi ni Alias Rene, does that mean, falsehoods din lahat ng sinasabi niya sa Senate? Sagot madam chair!" This indicates Tio's content challenged the credibility of Maurilio's initial testimony if his recantation was indeed false.
Collectively, these influencers are accused of generating "billions of views on Facebook every month," suggesting a significant reach and impact of their content.
A Contradictory Stance?
The Senator's decision to pursue cyber-libel charges has, however, raised eyebrows among observers, given her previous legislative efforts. In 2022, Senator Hontiveros championed Senate Bill No. 1593, which sought to decriminalize libel and cyber-libel by removing prison penalties – a measure she advocated for in the name of press freedom. "Cyber libel has been constantly used to silence our journalists. If we do not rectify this, libel will continue to be used to suppress our freedom," Hontiveros stated in 2022.
Now, in 2025, her critics are quick to point out the perceived contradiction, as she invokes the very law she once sought to amend. This has sparked a renewed debate about the delicate balance between holding individuals accountable for online disinformation and safeguarding the freedoms of expression that Hontiveros herself has championed.
The Maurilio Saga: A Timeline
The controversy is rooted in Michael Maurilio's shifting narratives. In 2024, Maurilio testified that Quiboloy's compound in Davao housed armed individuals with alleged links to the Duterte family. However, in 2025, he released a video recanting his previous statements, claiming he was bribed and coached to lie. Senator Hontiveros vehemently denies these allegations, stating that Maurilio had reached out to her office in June, alleging detention and coercion.
The Path Forward: Accountability vs. Freedom
As the NBI commences its investigation, the case is poised to become a landmark one, testing the boundaries of online speech and the legal recourse available against alleged disinformation. While Hontiveros asserts that this is "just the first step" in identifying and prosecuting the full network behind the videos, the ongoing debate underscores the critical need to balance holding purveyors of false information accountable with protecting the fundamental right to free expression – a right that Senator Hontiveros herself has historically championed. The outcome of this legal battle will undoubtedly have significant implications for the future of online discourse in the Philippines.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
.jpg)
