Rowegie Abanto

Members of the #Brave18, together with Mike Defensor, face members of the media during an interview session at Valle Verde Country Club on March 5, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Members of the #Brave18, together with Mike Defensor, face members of the media during an interview session at Valle Verde Country Club on March 5, 2026, where they addressed recent developments surrounding their case, shared personal accounts, and answered questions from journalists regarding ongoing issues and public concerns. 

The group emphasized their call for accountability, transparency, and due process as they continue to seek justice and public understanding of their situation.Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

18 EX MARINES- MIKE DEFENSOR

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177424164863220260305-18-ex-marines-defensor-baligod-MT13.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of the #Brave18, together with Mike Defensor, face members of the media during an interview session at Valle Verde Country Club on March 5, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The head of the National Bureau of Investigation on Monday said he would not allow the agency to be used for a &quot;fishing expedition&quot; as it began probing the corruption accusations of 18 alleged former Marines.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/23/trillanes-files-cyberlibel-complaints-vs-18-ex-marines-smni-hosts-1233">Trillanes files cyberlibel complaints vs 18 &#x27;ex-marines,&#x27; SMNI hosts</a></div><p>NBI director Melvin Matibag told ANC&#x27;s &quot;Headstart&quot; that the supposed former Marines admitted in their affidavit that they had not personally negotiated with the personalities accused of receiving pay-offs and that there was only a &quot;conduit&quot; for the alleged transactions.</p><p>Former House lawmaker Mike Defensor, who previously <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/28/mike-defensor-admits-helping-ex-marines-1808">admitted to helping the supposed former Marines</a> but said he had no hand in the preparation of their affidavit, told the same program that the government, specifically the Office of the Ombudsman and the NBI, should still investigate the allegations of the men despite questions surrounding the credibility of their claim.</p><p>But Matibag stressed that accusers should just file formal complaints before the court if they have strong evidence to do so, saying he would &quot;never allow&quot; the NBI to facilitate a &quot;fishing expedition.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Tanong ko lang po, meron ba siyang finile kahit isang kaso sa inaakusahan niyang magnanakaw?&quot; the NBI official asked Defensor.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/19/defensor-calls-on-lacson-to-invite-bersamin-olaivar-18-ex-marines-to-next-flood-control-hearing-1729">Defensor calls on Lacson to invite Bersamin, Olaivar, 18 ‘ex-Marines’ to next flood control hearing</a></div><p>The 18 claimed to have delivered bribes to top officials in relation to the flood control corruption scandal, impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte, and the International Criminal Court case of former President Rodrigo Duterte.</p><p>Matibag said they cannot immediately summon individuals being accused of corruption because they still have to validate the claims of the allegations, noting that the burden of proof lies with the accusers, although he admitted that the NBI has the obligation to investigate the issue in its totality.</p><p>&quot;We are making a balance based on what we have na prinisinta nila. And we go beyond that ... [by] exercising our power of issuing subpoena,&quot; he said.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g_DvHUPmEI4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>NBI director Melvin Matibag told ANC's "Headstart" that the testimony of the alleged former soldiers admitted in their affidavit that they had not personally negotiated with the personalities accused of receiving pay-offs and that there was only a "conduit" for the alleged transactions.</p>

NBI director Melvin Matibag told ANC's "Headstart" that the testimony of the alleged former soldiers admitted in their affidavit that they had not personally negotiated with the personalities accused of receiving pay-offs and that there was only a "conduit" for the alleged transactions.

NBI says won't allow agency to be used for 'fishing expedition' as '18 ex-Marines' face scrutiny

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NBI says won't allow agency to be used for 'fishing expedition' as '18 ex-Marines' face scrutiny

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 23, 2026 01:05 PM PHT

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NBI

Melvin Matibag

Mike Defensor

18 Marines

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