NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said on Thursday, June 4, 2026, that he received information that former Anakalusugan representative Mike Defensor bribed each of the 18 ex-marines P5 million to testify on the alleged receipt of cash of several personalities from former Ako Bicol Party-List representative Zaldy Co amid inquiries into flood control anomalies.
In a press conference, Matibag said the informant came up to him on April 28 and May 6.
“Mayroon siyang alegasyon, na 'yung isa doon sa isang Marines, may relasyon sila, may relationship sila, at napag-usapan nila. Alam niya 'yung nangyayari dito sa 18 Marines na ito at may allegation na may binayad. Magkakasama sila sa bahay kaya medyo may credibility 'yung testimonya nito,” he said.
(He has an allegation that one of the Marines had a relationship with him -- they had a relationship and they talked about it. He knows what is happening with these 18 Marines, and there is an allegation that money was paid. They live together in the same house, so this testimony has some credibility.)
“Pinangalanan si dating congressman Mike Defensor na siya 'yung nag-offer ng halaga, ng P5 million para maging testigo nga, mag-press conference,” he added.
(Former congressman Mike Defensor was named as the one who allegedly offered an amount of P5 million to become a witness and hold a press conference.)
Matibag said the informant signed and recorded an affidavit related to her claim.
He said the NBI will issue a subpoena to Defensor and the ex-marine identified by the informant.
Matibag made the statement amid the ongoing Senator Alan Peter Cayetano-bloc inquiry into the flood control anomalies attended by the 18 ex-marines.
Defensor was also present during the hearing.
Cayetano read a report about Matibag’s statement during the hearing, which was vehemently denied by the ex-marines.
“Hindi po your honor. Pwede bang iharap dito ‘yung nagsabi niyan para patotohanan niya. Sa ngayon po halos nga ang pamilya naming ‘yung kakarampot na ipon naming hanggang ngayon ‘yung pinagkakasya namin,” Johnny Buduan said.
(No, Your Honor. Can the person who said that be presented here so they can confirm it? As of now, even our family’s very small savings -- what little we have saved -- is what we are making do with.)
“Kung nakatanggap kami ng ganyang halaga, edi sana napaganda na ngayon ang buhay namin,” he added.
(If we had received that kind of amount, then our lives would have been better by now.)
Lawyer Levito Baligod, the legal counsel of the ex-marines, said if the claims of Matibag were true, they would no longer need to look for money and ask for help from several people when some of their family members were hospitalized and passed away just recently.
He said he has receipts to prove his statement.
“Alam nyo po kung accusation lang na galing kay Matibag, naaawa po ako sa NBI dahil eroded na ang credibility dahil kay Matibag,” said Baligod.
(You know, if it’s just an accusation coming from Matibag, I feel sorry for the NBI because its credibility has been eroded because of Matibag.)
Defensor, in an interview with reporters, slammed the NBI and urged Matibag to use the agency’s resources to impartially investigate the corruption in the country.
“Alam mo ganyang-ganyan ang sinabi nila noon kay Guteza. Sinabi nila pinapirma nila na kami daw ni Marcoleta nag-offer ng pera para magsalita ng ganon at hindi daw totoo yon at sabi nila don ang pagdeliver kay Martin Romualdez ay hindi totoo,” he said.
(You know, that is exactly what they said before about Guteza. They said they made him sign that it was allegedly me and Marcoleta who offered money for him to say that, and that it was not true. And they also said that the delivery to Martin Romualdez was not true.)
“Ginagawa na naman nila yan para i-discredit ‘yung mga marines na parang binayaran sila para magsalita,” he added.
(They are doing it again to discredit the Marines, as if they were paid to speak out.)
Cayetano urged Matibag to appear before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and present the evidence related to his claim.
Matibag in response to the invitation said he will attend the Senate if Cayetano will send him a subpoena. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)