When Senator Risa Hontiveros filed Senate Bill No. 2512 in late 2023, it was meant to be a landmark piece of legislation—a safeguard against subornation of perjury, the crime of coaching or bribing a witness to lie under oath.
Now, amid recent allegations involving Alias Rene, critics are asking: Will the lawmaker live by the same standards she authored?
⚖️ Senate Bill 2512: What Is It?
Filed in December 2023, Senate Bill 2512 proposes:
- ₱1 million fine for public officials who suborn perjury
- Perpetual disqualification from public office
- Criminal penalties to deter witness manipulation
Hontiveros positioned the bill as a moral stance: a tool to uphold justice, discourage false testimonies, and protect the courts from political theatrics.
🔥 The Allegations That Mirror Her Bill
In a June 2025 viral confession, “Alias Rene”—a witness in Hontiveros' Senate investigation into Pastor Quiboloy and former President Duterte—alleged:
- He was paid ₱500,000 to testify
- Promised more to name other political figures
- Handled by “legal teams” and given living accommodations
These mirror the very behaviors Senate Bill 2512 was designed to criminalize.
Status: While the video sparked public interest, no verified evidence or formal indictment has been issued against Hontiveros as of this writing.
🧠 Analysis: Sword of Justice or Political Shield?
In a widely shared opinion piece by Rob Rances, the author argues that Senate Bill 2512 now functions less like a sword of justice and more like a political shield—a way for Hontiveros to claim moral high ground while deflecting similar accusations.
Rances outlines three key "shields" the senator could potentially rely on:
- Moral Positioning: Framing herself as incapable of wrongdoing because she authored the bill
- Plausible Deniability: Distancing herself from her staff or legal teams
- Attacking the Whistleblower: Discrediting the witness to dismantle the narrative
🔄 The Double Standard Question
Would Hontiveros demand accountability if these allegations were aimed at a Duterte ally?
That’s the central ethical question raised by critics: whether political actors enforce accountability only when it benefits their camp, or whether they consistently uphold their own standards—even when the mirror turns on them.
📌 What We Know (As of June 28, 2025)
| Allegation/Event | Verified Status |
|---|---|
| Senate Bill 2512 authored by Hontiveros | ✅ Verified (Filed Dec 2023) |
| Alias Rene’s public bribery confession | 🔶 Confirmed video, unverified evidence |
| Formal Ombudsman charges against Hontiveros | ❌ Not confirmed |
| Bikoy’s 2019 recantation naming Hontiveros | ✅ Verified |
| 2017 complaint over wiretapping | ✅ Verified |
⚠️ The Integrity Test
If Senator Risa Hontiveros truly believes in Senate Bill 2512, observers argue she must:
- Welcome an independent investigation, not dismiss it
- Temporarily step back from Senate proceedings involving the witnesses she’s linked to
- Publicly commit to the same consequences her bill prescribes if found guilty
After all, laws are not just for political opponents. They're for everyone.
🧭 Final Thoughts: Accountability Is Not Optional
Senate Bill 2512 can either strengthen public trust in democratic processes—or reveal the gaps between rhetoric and responsibility.
Senator Hontiveros has long been known as a human rights champion. But if the allegations are proven true and she remains in office without consequence, then this moment won’t just taint her legacy—it will undermine the very ideals she claims to stand for.
The question now is not whether Senate Bill 2512 is a good law.
It’s whether its author will let it apply to herself.
🗣️ Join the conversation:
Use the hashtag #AccountabilityForAll and share your thoughts. Should lawmakers be held to their own legal standards?
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