Defensor camp mulls rap vs Matibag if NBI keeps issuing subpoenas

[Update June 10, 2026, 8:14 p.m.]

MANILA, Philippines — Former congressman Mike Defensor’s camp is studying the possibility of filing a “harassment” complaint against National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag if the issuance of subpoenas continues, according to his legal counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio.

Topacio said this in a chance interview on Wednesday as he arrived at the NBI headquarters in Pasay City to represent Defensor in complying with a subpoena issued to him in connection with allegations that he gave each of the 18 alleged bagmen of former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co P5 million to testify about the flood control anomalies.

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

“If you think Defensor committed a crime, file it with the prosecution office. Let’s talk there because that’s really the process,” he said in Filipino.

Topacio warned that if the supposed “harassment” continues, they will file a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman or the Department of Justice.

“We already have many laws that punish the abuse of governmental powers. We will study that,” he added.

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

Sought a reaction, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said, “no comment.”

“What Atty. Topacio is saying neither makes me a bigger person nor a lesser one,” Matibag added in a Viber message to the INQUIRER.

This is the second time the NBI has issued a subpoena against Defensor in connection with the 18 alleged bagmen of Co.

Defensor appeared before the bureau in March regarding the alleged assistance he and his wife provided to the 18 individuals.

On Feb. 24, the 18 men first appeared in public, claiming they served as Co’s “bagmen” and delivered P805 billion in alleged kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects to government officials. /mcm /mr