DOJ dismisses Hontiveros' cyberlibel complaints vs social media personalities
The Department of Justice junked the cyberlibel complaints filed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros against social media personalities for amplifying a video accusing her of bribery and coercion.
In a resolution, the panel of prosecutors ruled there was no prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction to indict respondents, namely lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, Bryon "Banat By" Cristobal, Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz, Krizette “Kiffy” Chu, Jose “Jay” Sonza, and Alex “Tio Moreno” Destor.
“The declarations of the respondents against complainant Hontiveros-Baraquel may have been offensive, but they are not actionable by themselves,” it said.
“It was not established that the defamatory statements were made with knowledge that the statements were false or with reckless disregard as to whether or not they were true,” it added.
The panel underscored constitutional protections for public discourse, citing Supreme Court precedent that public officials must endure heightened criticism.
“The Supreme Court has remarked that ‘being sensitive’ has no place in this line of service, more so when allowing otherwise has the potential to create a chilling effect on the public,” it added.
Hontiveros filed the complaint in July 2025, stemming from the video of Michael Maurillo, a Senate witness against Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy. In the video, he alleged that he was bribed by Hontiveros in exchange for his testimony.
Before this, Maurilio testified as a witness in the Senate investigation led by Hontiveros, where he alleged abuses by Quiboloy and claimed to have seen armed members of the Duterte family at Quiboloy’s Glory Mountain compound. He voluntarily reached out to Hontiveros’ office and shared information in December 2023 and January 2024. However, he appeared in a widely shared video retracting his previous statements.
Hontiveros filed a separate cyberlibel complaint against Maurillo. She has previously denied the allegations.
