A SENATE committee witness has accused Sen. Risa Hontiveros of allegedly paying him to make false accusations against pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
This as the witness, who came out as alias Rene during the hearings of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, recanted his allegations against Quiboloy in a Facebook post.
Hontiveros, in a statement, denied the allegation and said Rene, whose real name is Michael Maurilio, could have been “coerced and paid off to derail the ongoing criminal proceedings against Quiboloy.”
Maurilio testified before the committee, which is chaired by Hontiveros, on February last year. He wore a hooded jacket and dark eyeglasses to hide his true identity for fear of reprisal from the leadership of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
Hontiveros’ office confirmed that the man in the Facebook post who identified himself as Maurilio is alias Rene.
In his Facebook account, Maurilio said he is now voluntarily telling the truth as he sought forgiveness from Quiboloy for the “sins” he committed when he falsely testified against Quiboloy.
“Binayaran po ako ni Senator Risa Hontiveros para mag-testify laban kay PRRD, VP Sara at kay pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy. Lahat ng sinabi at mga kasama ko doon na witness sa Senado ay ginawa lamang ni Sen. Risa upang pabagsakin si pastor at ang buong kingdom at kunin ang kanilang mga ari-arian. Ngayon po hinahanap at tinatakot ako ni Sen. Risa (Sen. Risa Hontiveros paid me to testify against PRRD [former president Rodrigo Duterte], Vice President Sara [Duterte] and pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy. Everything that I and the other witnesses said during the Senate hearings were all made up by Sen. Risa to bring down the astor and the entire kingdom so they can take away his [Quiboloy] properties. Now, I am being hunted down and threatened by Sen. Risa),” Maurilio alleged.
In her statement, Hontiveros said: “Kasinungalingan ang mga alegasyon ngayon mula sa nagpakilalang dating testigo sa pagdinig ng Senado ukol sa mga krimen ni pastor Apollo Quiboloy. Sangkaterba ang ebidensiya ng aking opisina na magpapatunay na gawa-gawa lang ang pahayag ngayon ng taong iyan (The allegations of that witness from the past hearings on the crimes of Quiboloy are all lies. My office has gathered piles of evidence to attest that what he is saying now are all made up).”
She added: “All witnesses presented during the Quiboloy Senate hearings freely and voluntarily offered their testimonies and the evidence they carried.”
The senator said she has reason to believe that “this individual has been coerced or paid off to derail the ongoing criminal proceedings against Quiboloy and disturbingly, threaten my staff and the witnesses who spoke out against Quiboloy’e heinous crimes. Ganyan sila ka-desperado (That’s how desperate they are).”
Hontiveros said her office will seek legal remedies to address Maurilio’s allegations.
“We are preparing our serious legal response against this act of harassment and intimidation. Hindi namin palalampasin ang mga nasa likod ng pananakot na ito (We will not allow the people behind this to go unpunished),” she said.
During his testimony during the Senate hearings, Maurilio identified himself as a landscape worker at Quiboloy’s Glory Mountain. He claimed that the pastor would hit him hard each time he fails to meet the KOJC leader’s expected design.
He also alleged he saw Quiboloy at the Glory Mountain carrying firearms placed in huge bags.
He likewise alleged that he saw Rodrigo and Sara Duterte leaving with the bags of firearms after visiting Quiboloy at the Glory Mountain.
Maurilio also accused a certain Jun Andrade, who he said was a high official of the KOJC, of supposedly sexually abusing him.
