Hontiveros faces ethics complaint, dismisses ‘recycled lies’
Metro Manila, Philippines - Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros is facing an ethics complaint over alleged witness tampering in the Senate inquiry into religious leader and sex offender suspect Apollo Quiboloy — an allegation the senator has consistently denied.
Former Congressman Jing Paras, along with fellow lawyers Ferdinand Topacio and Manuelito Luna filed the complaint on Thursday, Aug. 28. They said Hontiveros committed “disorderly behavior” in dealing with Senate witnesses, the latest of whom was former Kingdom of Jesus Christ member Michael Murillo, who claimed the senator paid him ₱1 million to testify against Quiboloy.
“The issue here is due process. The issue here is accountability. Now, kung tatahimik na lang, hindi ipatawag ng Senado yung mga possible witnesses that points to her alleged offenses, walang accountability ang isang Senador [If the Senate chooses to stay silent and refuses to summon possible witnesses against a sitting senator, then there is no accountability],” Paras said.
“Hindi lang ang vice president, hindi lang ang president ang accountable. Pati members of Congress [Not only the Vice President or the President should be held accountable - members of Congress as well],” he added.
The complainants cited constitutional provisions that allow Congress to suspend or expel a member for disorderly behavior, with a two-thirds vote of all its members.
In a media forum held ahead of the complaint’s filing, Hontiveros dismissed the accusations as “recycled lies” and political harassment, reiterating that she is ready to respond to the charges.
“Kumpleto rin po kami ng resibo tungkol sa lahat ng mga witnesses o whistleblowers na lumapit sa opisina ko or lumapit sa aming komite sa alinmang imbestigasyon,” she said.
“Kaya panatag ako na buong-buo kong mahaharap ang anumang detalye ng complaint nila, kung yan ang sinasabi nilang grounds nila. Ewan ko sinong guilty sa witness tampering. Hindi yata ako,” she added.
[Translation: We have complete documentation on all the witnesses or whistleblowers who came to my office or approached our committee in any investigation. That’s why I’m confident I can face any detail in their complaint, if that’s what they’re calling their grounds. I don’t know who’s guilty of witness tampering - it’s certainly not me.]
The ethics committee has yet to be formally constituted. Senator Robin Padilla, a member of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino - where Topacio serves as deputy spokesperson - has been considered to lead the panel.
When asked if she expects fairness should Padilla lead the committee, Hontiveros replied, “I always presume regularity and good faith on the part of whoever among us is assigned to chair any committee.”
