FORMER lawmaker and environment and natural resources secretary Michael “Mike” Defensor on Sunday railed at the timing of the filing of a complaint of plunder against him, Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and two other people, saying “it was completely baseless and appears to be built on assumptions and speculation.”
Defensor told The Manila Times in a Viber interview that he and the other respondents are “prepared to fully defend ourselves.”
“I have faith in our institutions and in the rule of law. I trust that when facts — not politics, assumptions, or publicity — are examined, the truth will prevail,” said Defensor, who was Malacañang chief of staff during the term of president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“I have faced many battles in public life before. We will face this one head-on, and we will let the evidence speak,” he said.
The nephew of the late senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said he did not commit any wrongdoing.
“There was no illegal act, no corrupt transaction, no favor sought, and absolutely no conspiracy to commit any crime,” he said.
The mere act of giving or receiving funds does not automatically constitute plunder, bribery, or corruption, said Defensor. The law requires facts and evidence — not insinuations.
“What is disturbing is the reckless effort to elevate ordinary and lawful acts into serious criminal accusations without showing any clear connection to a government contract, official act, undue benefit, or quid pro quo. Serious charges like plunder should never be used for headlines or harassment,” he said.
“The timing and manner by which this has surfaced naturally raise questions. But regardless of motive, we will confront this directly and through the proper legal process,” according to Defensor, who recently made news when he introduced to Marcoleta former Marine Sgt. Orly Guteza — who became a surprise whistleblower at the height of the Senate inquiry into the flood control project scandal.
The Office of the Ombudsman gave the respondents 15 days from receipt of its order to submit their counter-affidavits.
The complaint, filed last May 18, alleged that Marcoleta’s acceptance of gifts worth a total of P75 million on three separate occasions when he was a member of the House of Representatives constitutes the crime of plunder.
It alleged that on Jan. 6, 2025, Marcoleta received P30 million from Defensor, which was “evidenced by a donor’s tax return and a ... deposit slip showing that Defensor paid the donor’s tax on” Dec. 17, 2025.
