MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has reversed its earlier dismissal of a complaint and ordered the filing of cyberlibel charges against lawyer Ferdinand Topacio and five others over online claims against Senator Risa Hontiveros concerning the Senate investigation into detained preacher Apollo Quiboloy.

Also named in the directive are vloggers Byron “Banat By” Cristobal and Jeffrey Celiz, broadcaster Jay Sonza, Krizette Chu, and Alex “Tio Moreno” Destor.

The case stemmed from complaints filed by Hontiveros following online videos and commentaries discussing the recantation of Michael Maurilio, also known as “Rene,” a former witness in the Senate probe into Quiboloy.

Maurilio claimed in a viral video that Hontiveros and her office had coached and bribed him to fabricate testimony. The six respondents shared or amplified the allegations on social media.

In its resolution, the DOJ said the records sufficiently established prima facie evidence, with reasonable certainty of conviction, to charge the respondents with cyberlibel under Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Section 4(c)(4) of Republic Act No. 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

The department granted the petition for review and reversed and set aside the resolutions issued by the Office of the Secretary of Justice-Prosecution Staff on Dec. 22, 2025, and March 16, 2026.

It directed the prosecution staff to file the corresponding Information for cyberlibel against Topacio, Cristobal, Celiz, Chu, Sonza, and Destor.

The office was also ordered to report the action taken to the DOJ within 10 days of receiving the resolution.