Malacañang has expressed support for legal action from Michael Maurillo, also known as alias Rene, following his retraction of testimony against the Duterte family and detained pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro addressed Vice President Sara Duterte’s earlier call for Maurillo to pursue charges if his claims of being influenced are true.
“It would be better for Michael Maurillo to file a case if there are issues involving alleged false witnesses,” Castro said. “A trial would help uncover the truth, especially if there were anomalies. We should not allow cases to be dismissed on technicalities.”
Previously, alias Rene testified before the Senate, chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros, claiming he saw the Dutertes carrying firearms from Quiboloy’s compound. Recently, however, he appeared in a Facebook video alleging that he was paid by Hontiveros to fabricate his testimony.
Hontiveros has firmly denied the accusations, labeling the video “fake news” and accusing those involved of “witness tampering.” In response, she filed cyber libel complaints with the Department of Justice against Rene, a lawyer, and several online influencers.
Vice President Sara Duterte also mentioned that Rene had connections to individuals involved in her father’s ongoing case at the International Criminal Court (ICC), where former President Rodrigo Duterte faces charges related to the deadly war on drugs. He is currently detained in the Netherlands.