Former congressman Mike Defensor defended the 18 alleged former Marines and soldiers, saying their testimonies before the Cayetano-led Senate Blue Ribbon Committee were neither scripted nor politically motivated on Friday, June 5.
In an interview, Defensor said the witnesses merely recounted what they saw and answered 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 and what they did. Whatever questions the committee or court asks, that’s all they can answer.“)
Defensor also denied claims that the group had changed its story, sought to influence politics, or expressed support for the Duterte family.
During their testimony, the alleged former Marines claimed that several individuals received kickbacks from flood control projects, including Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Sen. Erwin Tulfo and former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.
They also named several members of the House of Representatives, including former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima and former ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro.
Asked why the alleged former Marines no longer included Sens. Loren Legarda and Mark Villar in allegations involving suitcases of money, Defensor said the witnesses answered only the questions asked of them and had “nothing to hide."
"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,” he said.
(“What the soldiers said is the truth. For example, if you ask me something now, I will answer only what you ask. That does not mean I am hiding anything. It does not mean there is something I do not want to reveal.“)
The Philippine Navy earlier said that four of the 18 individuals were neither members of the Navy nor the Philippine Marine Corps. The Navy also said that most of the individuals had been honorably discharged from service.
