Palace: ‘Wonder Boy’ Mike Defensor is ‘Ador Mawanay 2.0’

[Updated Feb. 26, 2026, 4:26 p.m.]

MANILA, Philippines — Palace press officer Claire Castro has likened Mike Defensor to infamous Senate witness Ador Mawanay, who testified against Sen. Panfilo Lacson over two decades ago but later retracted his statements.

At Thursday’s briefing, Castro was asked to comment on Defensor’s warning that another group of former marines would soon come forward with their supposed firsthand accounts of an alleged bribery scheme in the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

READ: Palace: Marines’ alleged cash delivery to Marcos a ‘lousy script’

“Mike Defensor, the known wonder boy. Many of his speeches encourage our fellow citizens to remove our President from office. We already know the motive,” the Palace official responded in Filipino.

Castro also said, “Mike Defensor again, Ador Mawanay 2.0 – the name ‘Mawanay’ is known because of the alleged coercion for him to create a fabricated affidavit.”

In 2001, Mawanay testified in the Senate to affirm a slew of allegations against Lacson. Mawanay also claimed to be a former agent of the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force under the Estrada administration.

However, Mawanay retracted his statements two years later, claiming he was just under pressure. He was subsequently removed from the government’s witness protection program.

READ: Adiong: Timing of 18 Marines’ claim solons got cash from Co is suspect

During Thursday’s briefing, Castro also alleged that an individual from the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was acting as an “operator” whose role was to sow confusion over current government issues.

“We have information that there was a person in GMA’s administration whose role as an operator was simply to muddle the issues. If this person is involved in an issue, something is fishy,” she said, not disclosing the name of the person.

Defensor previously served as a key Cabinet official under Arroyo, holding posts as chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Malacañang chief of staff.

As a congressman during the Estrada administration, Defensor was among the lawmakers who became known as part of the so-called “Spice Boys,” a group within Congress critical of the sitting administration at the time.

Be careful with statements, conduct full investigation

Defensor, in a statement in response to Castro, said she should be careful with her pronouncements given she represents President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. through her words.

“Usec. Claire Castro, as spokesperson of the President, should be very careful with her statements. This is not a market or a sari-sari store where rumors can be spread like Maritess. She speaks for the President and represents Malacañang,” said Defensor in Filipino.

“Her words and posturing must be sober, precise, and statesmanlike. They will answer the real issue. Don’t be distracted by personality,” he also said.

Defensor further said that if the administration is indeed serious in curbing corruption, then it should urge the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, the Committee on Good Government of the House, and the Ombudsman to conduct a full and impartial investigation based off the testimonies of the ex-marines.

“Transparency and accountability—that should be the priority, not diversion,” he said. /mr