Former congressman Mike Defensor did not appear before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday, June 10, despite a subpoena, with his legal counsel instead attending on his behalf.

Topacio appeared at the NBI Special Action Unit past 10 a.m. to comply with the subpoena.

Defensor's lawyer said his client decided not to attend, claiming that the repeated subpoenas issued against him form part of what he described as a “pattern of harassment” by the NBI.

“Hindi na pumunta si Congressman Defensor sapagkat halatang-halata naman po na itong patuloy na pag-subpoena sa kanya ay bahagi lamang ng pattern of harassment,” Topacio said.

The subpoena is linked to allegations raised by NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag, who earlier claimed that Defensor allegedly offered bribes of P5 million each to so-called “18 maleta boys.”

Topacio strongly denied the allegations and criticized Matibag, calling him a “puppet of Malacañang” who, according to him, is being used to disrupt the investigation.

“Bagama’t wala po tayong paggalang, paprankahin po na doon sa namumuno ngayon sa NBI, na halatang-halata po natin na puppet ng Malacañang, na ang papel lamang niya ay manggulo sa imbestigasyon,” Topacio added.

The lawyer also alleged that the NBI had placed the Senate under a lockdown due to an alleged security threat, which he linked to the expected appearance of additional witnesses—referred to as “14 maleta boys”—in a flood control hearing scheduled by the Cayetano bloc, on Thursday, June 11.

“Alam niyo ba na bukas may bagong mga testigong, 14 na darating sa Senado… Pinapalockdown ng NBI ang Senado para hindi lang makapasok,” he said.

“Alam niyo po kasi, the people who are now in power are fighting for their lives,” Topacio added.

As of press time, the NBI has not issued a response to the allegations raised by Defensor’s camp regarding harassment claims and the alleged Senate security measures.