Defensor’s ‘Blue Ribbon hearing’ blasts BBM, Sandro, Martin, Chiz

Senators planned yesterday charges of usurpation of authority against ex-congressman slash Cabinet member Mike Defensor. This was after he scheduled Monday then led Tuesday a supposed Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing on the P1.7-trillion flood control scam.

Defensor is neither senator nor BRC chairman, committee head Sen. Erwin Tulfo pointed out. No senator, not even ex-BRC vice chairman Rodante Marcoleta, to whom Defensor contributed P30 million in Election 2025, admits to empowering him to announce or hold any hearing.

No senator attended the rogue hearing. Defensor did not explain his heading the BRC’s “continuation” of its investigation of the P1.7-trillion flood control scam.

Defensor is notorious for avoiding questioning. To this day, he has not explained how in 2012 he came to be the biggest quarrier in the mountains of Rodriguez, Rizal after his secretaryship of Environment and Natural Resources. Quarrying in Rodriguez, formerly Montalban, causes deadly, destructive floods in Greater Manila each year. It is forbidden in Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape.

Defensor presented four more “maleta boys.” They claimed to have delivered suitcases of cash to the Forbes Park residence of President Bongbong Marcos. BBM’s son, Rep. Sandro Marcos, supposedly received the loot. Proof: a selfie with him.

They also allegedly delivered more suitcases of cash to BBM’s first cousin ex-Speaker Martin Romualdez. Romualdez is the arch-foe of Defensor and Marcoleta’s political ally VP Sara Duterte.

The four also implicated Sen. Chiz Escudero, erstwhile supporter of VP Sara. Last week Escudero jumped to the side of the Minority. That boosted the latter’s number to 12 senators, enabling them to oust three-weeklong pro-Sara Senate President Alan Cayetano.

They also incriminated Comelec Chairman George Garcia. They allegedly accompanied some of the 18 original “maleta boys” in delivering to Garcia and aide a suitcase containing P10 million. Garcia used to be BBM’s election lawyer.

Screen grab from Mike Defensor/Facebook

The “maleta boys” linked two more:

• Ex-senator Sonny Trillanes, to whom they supposedly delivered suitcases of cash at his Antipolo home while he was coordinating with International Criminal Court investigators of ex-president Rody Duterte’s extrajudicial killings during the bloody war on drugs;

• Rep. Stella Alabastro Quimbo, House appropriations committee head after the resignation of the maleta boys’ boss Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co. Stella is the wife of present Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo, Defensor’s UP-Diliman fraternity mate and best friend. Reluctant to talk about the matter, Rep. Miro told this writer, “I’d like to give Mike the benefit of the doubt that he believes in what he’s doing.”

Usurpation is punishable by imprisonment of six months to four years, a judge’s discretionary fine and disqualification from public office.

Mostly pro-Sara vloggers attended Defensor’s “hearing.” Senate reporters said Cayetano, Marcoleta and ex-BRC chairwoman Pia Cayetano ignored their queries for confirmation of the legality of the hearing.

Defensor’s hearing was held at an events place in Mandaluyong City, 13 kilometers or an hour’s drive through traffic from the Senate building in Pasay City.

There were no BRC stenographers, transcribers and recorders. No official Senate livestream of proceedings, only Facebook live coverage on Defensor’s page. Other live coverages were by Net25, owned by Iglesia Ni Cristo, and Sonshine Media Network International, owned by jailed Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Defensor said there should have been 14 additional maleta boys, but only four showed up. Sen. Imee Marcos was seen entering the events place in the morning but left before the “hearing.” Defensor added that Sen. Robin Padilla, president of Rody Duterte’s PDP-Laban party, also inspected the venue Monday.

Meanwhile, medalist of valor retired marine Colonel Ariel Querubin criticized the 18 original maleta boys, 14 of whom were ex-marines.

He recounted being twice jailed for rebelling against the establishment in fighting against corruption. The first time was for joining the December 1989 coup attempt against then-president Cory Aquino. Then in February 2006 for leading the holdout at Marine headquarters against then-president Gloria Arroyo.

In one battle against government forces, a tank shelled rebel soldiers led by Querubin. His face, body and limbs riddled with shrapnel, Querubin was taken to the morgue. As a nurse was taking off his dog tags and PMA class ring, his finger twitched. The nurse shouted, “Doc, buhay pa ito!” Whereupon, the doctors rushed to revive and save him.

About the maleta boys, he stated: “How can we dignify and say these men are honorable? They knew that the money they were delivering are people’s money stolen by corrupt officials. They condoned this illegal practice. Now they are coming out as honorable men and being hailed heroes. Tell that to the true marines.

“True marines don’t carry money stolen from the people. Honor is earned, not delivered in suitcases.”

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