Hontiveros preparing legal response to witness allegations

Senator Risa Hontiveros is preparing a "serious legal response" against Michael Maurilio, a former witness who claims he was paid P1 million to give false testimonies against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and former Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte during Senate hearings.

Maurilio, who used the alias "Rene" and was a landscaper at Quiboloy's property, stated in a video that Hontiveros allegedly coerced him to testify to "pabagsakin si Pastor at ang buong Kingdom at kunin ang kanilang mga ari-arian" (bring down the Pastor and the entire Kingdom and take their properties).

Hontiveros vehemently denied the allegations, stating her office possesses substantial evidence to prove Maurilio's claims are false.

She asserted that all witnesses in the hearings voluntarily provided their testimonies, which have paper trails corroborated by multiple agencies and officials.

Hontiveros indicated that her office is prepared to release proof when appropriate and called the witness's actions "harassment and intimidation."