Former Congressman Mike Defensor's camp is studying the possibility of filing a "harassment" complaint against National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Atty. Melvin Matibag if the agency continues issuing subpoenas against him, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said on Wednesday, June 10.
In an interview, Topacio said they may elevate the matter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Office of the Ombudsman if what he described as a "pattern of harassment" by the NBI persists.
Topacio argued that if authorities believe Defensor committed a crime, they should file a formal complaint before the prosecution office instead of repeatedly summoning his client.
"Sasabihin ko na sa kanila, [kung sa] tingin nyo may krimeng ginawa si Secretary Defensor, file nyo sa prosecution office, doon tayo mag-usap kasi yun talaga ang proseso. Kasi tinawag nyo na eh, nakausap nyo na, sabi nyo, hindi naman kayo, pinagpagdagpakalam ako ng maayos, uwi ako, di ba, last time, nandito ako. Pinauwi kami, bago ngayon, ito na naman," Topacio said.
The lawyer stressed that several laws impose penalties on government officials who abuse their authority.
He also had a message for Matibag, urging him to exercise restraint and reminding him that public office is not permanent.
"Pwede naman kayo mag-file sa prosecution office ng demanda kung tingin nyo ay may krimen. Pwede naman kayo ang complainant, yung ex-relasyon eh. Pero, huwag itong patawag kayo ng patawag ng never-ending," he added.
Defensor did not appear at the NBI's second subpoena hearing regarding the alleged "maleta boys" controversy.
The subpoena stems from allegations that Defensor bribed individuals identified as bagmen of former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co with P5 million each in exchange for testimony related to the flood control scandal.
Earlier, Matibag claimed that 18 'maleta boys' received P5 million each from Defensor as alleged bribes in exchange for their testimony concerning the controversy.
