Former Congressman Mike Defensor has denied allegations that he bribed 18 self-identified ex-Marines with P5 million each to testify at a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing regarding flood control anomalies. Defensor called the accusations a fabricated story with no basis.
Defensor: Allegations Are Double Hearsay
Defensor labeled the information received by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as "double hearsay." He stated that he personally read the affidavit of the individual who provided the information, which came from a "son-in-law." According to the affidavit, the son-in-law claimed that P5 million was given but not yet fully delivered. Defensor emphasized that none of the former soldiers had spoken directly about the matter; instead, the individual only heard the story from his father-in-law, who was one of the 18 ex-Marines.
Defensor Questions NBI's Actions
Defensor questioned why the NBI acted on what he described as an unverified account or information. The NBI had issued a subpoena to Defensor on Tuesday in connection with the allegations. The former congressman said he would consult with his lawyer regarding the subpoena.
It can be recalled that Defensor previously denied allegations that he was the handler of the 18 ex-Marines. Despite denying any relationship with them, Defensor said he would continue to help them following the incident involving witness Orly Guteza, who suddenly disappeared after testifying in an alleged kickbacks scheme.
