Sara Duterte urges Maurillo to file charges over Hontiveros witness payment claims

Vice President Sara Duterte urged former Senate witness Michael Maurillo, also known as Rene, to file charges after he alleged that Senator Risa Hontiveros paid him P1 million to falsely testify against televangelist Apollo Quiboloy.

Maurillo earlier retracted his sworn statements about abuses inside Quiboloy's Kingdom of Jesus Christ and accused Hontiveros of coercing him to give false testimony, a claim the senator denies.

At a press conference, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said it would be better for Maurillo to file charges if there are issues regarding alleged fake witnesses through a trial to uncover the truth.

Hontiveros filed cyberlibel charges against Maurillo and others for sharing his accusations and questioned how Duterte obtained a copy of Maurillo's affidavit ahead of his video publication.

Quiboloy is currently detained on charges of human trafficking and violating child protection laws.