Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Article (news)

Mike Defensor

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Former congressman Michael Defensor said Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC), should invite former Undersecretaries Adrian Bersamin and Trygve Olaivar to answer questions on the flood control scandal. </p><p>Bersamin and Olaivar — formerly of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office and Department of Education, respectively — had been dragged in the anomaly and Defensor believes the two still have some money from alleged kickbacks.</p><p>“Alam mo may P1.2 billion pa sa kanila. Hawak pa nila. At alam ng lahat na nandiyan sa kanila,” Defensor said in a forum on Thursday.</p><p>He said the two were able to keep the money because the controversy blew up, interrupting supposed deliveries.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/17/ombudsman-already-verifying-claims-of-18-ex-soldiers-1714"><strong>Ombudsman already verifying claims of 18 ‘ex-soldiers’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;AT LEAST LISTEN TO THE SUPPOSED EX-MARINES&#x27;</strong></div><p>Defensor is also pushing for the 18 alleged former military men who said they were former Ako Bicol Party-List Rep. Zaldy Co&#x27;s bagmen to testify before the Lacson-led committee.</p><p>Defensor previously said he is helping the 18 but that he had no hand in the preparation of their affidavit. He also denied that the goal was to destabilize the government. </p><p>He said he is appealing to Lacson to at least listen to the 18, whose testimony he believes will stand before the Blue Ribbon Committee.</p><p>“Oh, definitely. I can guarantee you, pag nagkuwento itong mga ito, parang ano eh, hindi sila nanginginig, hindi nangangatal, hindi nabubulol,,” he said.</p><p>Lacson had said the next flood control hearing is tentatively set on April 14.</p><p>Defensor is not dismissing, however, the possibility that some of the 18 might retract their statement the way former Marine Orly Guteza supposedly did.</p><p>The former congressman claimed in 2025 without proof that Guteza was in the custody of the Marines, an assertion that the military has rejected.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/30/navy-whistleblower-guteza-is-not-in-marine-custody-1224"><strong>Navy: Whistleblower Guteza is not in Marine custody<br/></strong></a></div><p>Defensor said Guteza was made to sign a retraction while he was in an unspecified Marine compound.</p><p>Meanwhile, Defensor thanked Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla for his statement that the inclusion in the &#x27;ex-Marines&#x27; affidavit of a photo showing a suitcase being delivered is not entirely accurate and a manipulation of facts. </p><p>He said that the supposed discrepancy means the allegations are true.</p><p>“Kung anong panahon yan, kung sinong tumanggap yan, ilabas natin, wala tayong dapat itago. Pero ang maganda diyan sinabi niyang totoo,&quot; he also said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/13/remulla-bares-manipulation-of-timeline-in-ex-marines-bribery-claims-1512"><strong>Remulla says photo in affidavit of &#x27;ex-Marines&#x27; is from before Marcos admin<br/></strong></a></div><p>Defensor, a former Arroyo Cabinet member, added corruption in the Philippines has reached an unprecedented level, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, allegedly at the top.</p>

<p>Former congressman Michael Defensor said Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC), should invite former Undersecretaries Adrian Bersamin and Trygve Olaivar to answer questions on the flood control scandal.</p>

Former congressman Michael Defensor said Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC), should invite former Undersecretaries Adrian Bersamin and Trygve Olaivar to answer questions on the flood control scandal.

Defensor calls on Lacson to invite Bersamin, Olaivar, 18 ‘ex-Marines’ to next flood control hearing

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Defensor calls on Lacson to invite Bersamin, Olaivar, 18 ‘ex-Marines’ to next flood control hearing

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 19, 2026 05:29 PM PHT

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Mike Defensor

Panfilo Lacson

Blue Ribbon Committee

Flood control projects

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