MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday questioned Vice President Sara Duterte’s early access to the affidavit of Michael Maurillo, alias Rene, who recently recanted his Senate testimony and accused the senator of coercion.

“I would have no objection to that, Karen. At kung may ginawang affidavit si Michael Maurillo, alias Rene, laban sa akin at laban sa iba pang mga witnesses kontra kay Apollo Quiboloy at sa KOJC at kung puno na naman ang kasinungalingan tulad ng ipinasok niya sa kanyang video, then that could possibly open him up to charges of perjury as well as yung cyber libel na inihain ko kahapon,” Hontiveros said in an interview on ANC’s Headstart.

She filed cyber libel complaints against Maurillo and six online personalities on Wednesday, following the release of a video in which Maurillo accused Hontiveros and others of coercing him to testify against religious leader Apollo Quiboloy and his Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).

“Until now, I believe he was telling the truth during the Senate hearing,” she said.

“Pero totoo, kung sakaling may sinabi siya doon na kahit isang kasinungalingan, he would have perjured himself… then that would open him up indeed to charges of perjury,” she said.

Hontiveros said the timing of Maurillo’s sudden recantation was suspicious, especially after he had previously contacted her office for help.

“June 24 was just a day after Michael Maurillo’s last messages to my office June 22 and 23 na humihingi siya ng rescue kasi siya daw noon ay kinidnap, bihag noon sa Glory Mountain na alam natin ay headquarters ng KOJC at ni Apollo Quiboloy,” Hontiveros said, noting that the video was first uploaded on a new YouTube channel, which she described as a “fake news channel.”

She said the Department of Migrant Workers has already referred Maurillo’s messages to the Philippine National Police in Davao.

The senator has requested an investigation from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to determine the motivations and groups possibly behind Maurillo’s video.

“Ang pinaka-concern ko dito ay yung ginagawa ni Michael Maurillo at ng mga tao o grupo sa likod ng kanyang video. Ginagawa ng mga vloggers na yan na ikinalat yung kanyang video at nagdagdag pa ng kanilang mga sariling kasinungalingan,” she said.

“These are a coordinated and systematic [attacks] at hindi lang laban sa akin. Laban sa mga witnesses na naglakas loob… sabihin yung kanilang katotohanan,” Hontiveros added, warning that efforts to discredit witnesses were also attacking the integrity of the Senate.

Asked whether recantations in Senate hearings should carry stiffer penalties, Hontiveros said perjury charges could apply to those who lie under oath, but stronger consequences should also be imposed on those behind disinformation efforts.

“The stiffest penalties should be against those individuals and groups behind such systematic and coordinated acts against the truth,” she said. “At isama na natin yung mga vloggers. Kung sila ay nagsasabi ng sarili nilang mga kasinungalingan at kinakalat nila itong mga videos na punong-puno ng kasinungalingan.”