Mike Defensor defends 'ex-Marines,' denies Senate testimonies were scripted

Former congressman Mike Defensor on Friday defended the 18 supposed former Marines and soldiers anew, rejecting allegations that their testimonies before the Cayetano bloc-led Senate Blue Ribbon committee were scripted and politically motivated.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Defensor said the individuals merely recounted what they personally witnessed and responded to questions raised during the hearing.

"Ang mga Marino, ang mga sundalo, nagsasabi lang noong kanilang nakita, noong kanilang ginawa. Kung anong tanong sa kanila ng komite o korte later on, 'yun lang din nasasabi nila," Defensor said.

(The Marines and soldiers only told what they saw, what they did. Whatever questions the committee or court asks, that's all they can answer.)

He said there had been efforts to prevent the individuals from airing their allegations publicly.

Defensor also dismissed allegations that they shifted their narrative, tried to influence politics, and gave support to the Duterte family.

During their testimony, members of the supposed former Marines alleged that several personalities received kickbacks off flood control projects, including Senators Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and Erwin Tulfo, as well as former senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

They also implicated lawmakers from the House of Representatives including former speaker and Leyte congressman Martin Romualdez, ML Party-List representative Leila de Lima, and former congresswoman France Castro.

These personalities have denied the allegations leveled against them.

Tulfo has raised questions as to why the supposed former Marines skipped mentioning Senators Loren Legarda and Mark Villar in their testimonies on Thursday, even though the two senators were previously included in their affidavits.

Questions, answers

Asked why the supposed former Marines no longer mentioned Legarda and Villar as among the personalities who allegedly received suitcases filled with money, Defensor said:

"Ito po ay katotohanan na sinabi ng mga sundalo. Kunwari ngayon, tinatanong niyo ako, kung ano itanong niyo sa akin, 'yun ang sasagutin ko. So hindi naman ibig sabihin may tinatago ako. Hindi naman ibig sabihin may ayaw akong palabasin."

(It is true that the soldiers said that. Now for example, you ask me, whatever you ask me, that's what I will answer. So it doesn't mean I'm hiding something. It doesn't mean I don't want to reveal something."

He denied claims linking him to efforts to pressure lawmakers into supporting impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Palawan 2nd District Representative Jose "Pepito" Alvarez earlier said he suspects that he was tagged in the alleged distribution of money because he refused to endorse an impeachment complaint against Marcos.

Defensor said that his involvement with the alleged former Marines stemmed from his support for whistleblowers, including Orly Guteza.

He denied harboring any personal grudge against Marcos, saying he had intended to stay out of politics and focus on his businesses.

The Philippine Navy earlier said that four of the 18 were never members of the Navy nor the Philippine Marine Corps. Majority of the individuals were discharged dishonorably from the service, the Philippine Navy had said. — VDV, GMA News