Senator Risa Hontiveros is set to file a complaint before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against the people responsible for the alias "Rene" video, including those “systematically circulating it in their disinformation networks.”
On Monday, June 30, the Senator addressed the now-viral video of Michael Manuel Maurillo, known as alias "Rene," claiming that Hontiveros paid him to lie before the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality hearing last year.
Maurillo testified in 2024 against the crimes committed by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
Apart from the harassment of the victims, witnesses, and Hontiveros’ staff, the Senator said the video that circulated online is a clear act of witness tampering. She added that the video exposes the victims' and witnesses’ identities, including the personal information of her staff.
In consequence, these individuals are now more threatened. Hontiveros stated that her staff have to exercise extra precaution for themselves and their families.
“Make no mistake. This is not just an attack on my office. This is an attack on truth-telling. Kaya’t hindi natin hahayaan na takutin nila ang mga witnesses at sindakin nila ang Senado. Kaya’t sa mga nasa likod ng video na ito, you have crossed a line. Sobra na kayo,” she warned.
“Dahil doon, I have consulted with my legal team, and on Wednesday, we will file a complaint before the NBI and seek their assistance in investigating the people responsible for this video and those systematically circulating it in their disinformation networks,” she added.
Hontiveros emphasized that her office will take further decisive actions, like filing criminal complaints.
Last week, she promised to present evidence to refute Maurillo’s claims. According to Hontiveros, it was Maurillo who repeatedly approached her office, asking that his story be heard.
Comparing receipts and claims
However, more than a year after Maurillo testified before the Senate, he accused Hontiveros of paying him P1 million to implicate Quiboloy and others of committing crimes.
As a rebuttal, Hontiveros said that on December 14, 2023, Maurillo had emailed her office, introducing himself as a former worker for Quiboloy. The latter added that he left because of the abuse he suffered.
Maurillo had also claimed that he was ordered to implicate former President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte. However, his text message to Hontiveros’ staff said that the former President and Vice President sometimes visited Glory Mountain.
“Siya ang nagkusang loob. No one paid him. No one coerced him. I cannot stress this enough,” Hontiveros wrote in a social media post.
Meanwhile, Hontiveros asserted that they had never given Maurillo any financial assistance, as their office has a “strict policy of not providing financial assistance to potential witness and witnesses.” This was because they do not want to give the impression to others that they are paying for testimonies, as they only accept testimonies that are offered freely and willingly.
“I just want to ask if her office give a financial assistant. I want to buy a new laptop and things so I can find a job, even if it’s just work from home while I’m still recovering. But if there’s none, no issue naman,” Maurillo said in a text message, adding that he feels the need to face reality and deal with the mental anguish.
Despite this, her office assured that after the hearing, they will link Maurillo with organizations that help trafficking victims.
On June 22 and 23, 2025, Hontiveros said that Maurillo had frantically messaged her staff about being threatened and kidnapped.
“Help me. Kinidnap ako at tinatakot ng kingdom (KOJC), dito ako sa Glory Mountain…send rescue now please ASAP,” Michael said in a text message to staff.
“Help me please..send rescue now very scared and tired,” he wrote in a separate text message.
“We took his messages seriously. We forwarded them to the PNP [Philippine National Police] in Davao for immediate action, at noong kumikilos na ang PNP, biglang lumabas ang video,” Hontiveros wrote.
A real pattern
“This is the real pattern here. After testifying [in] the Senate, witnesses are harassed and threatened, and then, suddenly, flipped. Let’s call this what it is: witness tampering, fake news, psychological warfare. Ang mga kasinungalingan ay insulto sa pagdurusa at tapang ng mga witnesses,” the Senator emphasized.
“Tandaan natin, 14 sila [na] mga witnesses na naglahad sa mga abuso [na[ ginawa sa kanila ni Quiboloy at ng KOJC. sinungaling na nga, nanghaharras pa. Michael exposed people who trusted the Senate with their stories. And these are people who are already afraid. Now, they are in danger, again,” she added.
Those responsible for the video will be held accountable, the Senator said.
According to Hontiveros, they will work with the NBI for a full investigation into the people who created the video, including the networks amplifying it.
“We’re not stopping there. We are preparing criminal complaints,” she stated.
“To those behind this: you don’t scare us, but you should be scared of the truth. Because no one gets to endanger our witnesses, my staff, or harass the Senate with impunity. We will not let this slide. We will fight back. Hindi nila mapipigilan ang katotohanan,” she highlighted.
