Mike Defensor says he's ready to face possible cases by Ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines — Former Rep. Mike Defensor on Tuesday said that he is ready to face the cases that may be filed against him by the Office of the Ombudsman, saying that he will exhaust all of his means to prove his innocence.

This is what Defensor answered when asked what he would do to the possible cases that he may face this week. Defensor personally attended the rally organized by the Iglesia ni Cristo at the People Power Monument.

“I will not hide; I don’t hide even before, and they won’t win. They can jail me, but I will not hide; I will fight against it. As long as I can use my voice, I will fight against it,” Defensor told reporters in an interview.

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READ: Ombudsman: Plunder raps to be filed vs Marcoleta in Sandiganbayan

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Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday said Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, and his co-accused Defensor and certain Aristotle Viray and Joseph Espiritu will be charged with a non-bailable case of plunder before the Sandiganbayan in connection to campaign donations worth P75 million.

In January 2025, Defensor, Espiritu, and Viray allegedly donated P30 million, P25 million, and P20 million for Marcoleta’s senatorial campaign, according to the complaint. Citing his counter-affidavit, Marcoleta said that the P75 million donation was not public funds; the donated funds exceeded the P50-million threshold for plunder under Republic Act No. 7080 notwithstanding.

“We cannot do anything if they file a case against us, but this nonsense case, it’s clear that they just force us to file cases against us,” Defensor noted.

Defensor also said that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will not win against him as the agency recently filed a human trafficking complaint before the Pasig City prosecutor’s office against him and his wife, Julie Defensor, for using a bar and hotel they allegedly owned in the city to sexually exploit women.

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Defensor said that such cases are being used against him as he is actively using his voice against corruption in the government.

“Those who use their voices to call for investigation to know the truth behind corruption are the ones who get jailed. While those involved in corruption and should be investigated, they are the ones being used as state witness and they don’t have liability under the law,” the former lawmaker expressed.

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The Philippine National Police and the Metropolitan Manila Development said that the rally conducted by the religious sector allegedly had no permit. /mr

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