MANILA (February 13) – The Senate investigation into Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy gained new legal traction this week after a Pasay court issued an arrest warrant against Michael Maurillo, also known as “Alyas Rene,” in a cyber libel case linked to disputes surrounding the high-profile inquiry.
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday welcomed the development, describing it as a significant step toward accountability amid controversies tied to the Senate probe.
The warrant was issued on February 9 by the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 111 in connection with a cyber libel case filed under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, in relation to Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code.
Hontiveros said the move reinforces prosecutors’ findings that Maurillo’s allegations against her office and the Senate were unfounded.
“Very good development po. Wini-welcome ko po yung balitang yan na may in-issue ng arrest warrant kay Michael Maurillo kaugnay ng criminal case na inihain sa kanya dahil sa kanyang pagsisinungaling tungkol sa aming imbestigasyon (This is a very good development. I welcome the news that an arrest warrant has been issued against Michael Maurillo in connection with the criminal case filed against him for lying about our investigation),” she said.
The senator maintained that Maurillo voluntarily approached her office during the Senate inquiry and was neither coerced nor paid to provide information.
“Siya talaga yung lumapit sa office ko at hinding hindi siya pinilit o binayaran para sabihin yung kanyang nalalaman tungkol kay Apollo Quiboloy (He was the one who approached my office, and he was never forced or paid to disclose what he knew about Apollo Quiboloy),” she added.
Hontiveros said the issuance of the warrant signals that authorities found sufficient basis to proceed with the case.
She also urged Maurillo to cooperate with investigators and disclose what she described as “bigger fish” allegedly involved in Quiboloy’s operations.
“Baka ito na yung pagkakataon na finally mag-cooperate siya ulit sa mga awtoridad at ituro yung bigger fish (Perhaps this is now the opportunity for him to finally cooperate with authorities again and point to the bigger fish),” she said.
The case marks one of the first court actions stemming from disputes over testimonies and claims linked to the Senate’s ongoing probe into Quiboloy and related allegations.
