The Department of Justice – Philippines (DOJ) has reversed its earlier decision dismissing a cyberlibel complaint against vlogger Byron Cristobal, popularly known as “Banat By,” and five others, finding sufficient evidence to warrant the filing of criminal charges. If convicted, the respondents could face up to eight years in prison.
In a resolution, the DOJ granted a petition for review filed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, setting aside earlier prosecution resolutions dated Dec. 22, 2025, and March 16, 2026, which had dismissed the complaint against the six respondents.
The DOJ found 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 the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Under Philippine law, cyberlibel carries a possible prison sentence of four years, two months and one day to eight years, although the actual penalty depends on the court’s judgment and applicable sentencing rules.
The case stemmed from allegations that Hontiveros bribed and coached witnesses during the Senate investigation into religious leader Apollo Quiboloy and his Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Former Senate witness Michael Maurillo, also known as “Rene,” claimed in a June 2025 video that Hontiveros paid him ₱1 million to fabricate testimony against Quiboloy, former President Rody Duterte, and Vice President Sara Duterte.
Maurillo, who had previously testified about alleged abuses within KOJC, later recanted his testimony and accused Hontiveros and her staff of manipulating his statements.
Hontiveros denied the accusations and filed cyberlibel complaints in July 2025 against Maurillo and six other individuals, including Banat By, over the alleged dissemination of the claims through online videos and social media platforms.
