Mike Defensor ‘no-show’ at NBI, calls subpoena ‘harassment’

MANILA, Philippines — Former congressman Mike Defensor did not appear before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday, calling the subpoena “harassment.”

Instead of the former congressman, his lawyer, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, appeared on his behalf to comply with the subpoena on Wednesday morning.

“It is obvious that this continuous subpoenaing of him is just part of a pattern of harassment,” Topacio said in an ambush interview upon his arrival at the bureau.

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READ: Matibag: NBI received info that Defensor bribed ‘18 ex-Marines’ P5M each

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The INQUIRER reached out to NBI Director Melvin Matibag about the “harassment” remark of the Defensor camp but Matibag has yet to respond as of this writing.

Defensor was subpoenaed by the NBI to shed light on the allegations that he bribed each of the 18 “ex-bodyguards” of former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co with P5 million to testify in the flood control anomalies.

The former congressman recently described the accusations as merely “hearsay.”

The 18 individuals, who first appeared in public at a press conference on Feb. 24, claimed to have served as “bagmen” for Co and delivered P805 billion in alleged kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects to various government officials and personalities. /das

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