NBI files trafficking complaint vs. Mike Defensor's wife, child, others

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday said it has filed a complaint against the wife and child of former congressman Mike Defensor, among others, for alleged involvement in human trafficking.

According to the NBI, the complaint for violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 was filed before the Pasig City Prosecutor's Office.

The filing stemmed from a raid on an establishment in Pasig City, which NBI Director Melvin Matibag said was connected to a hotel where alleged sexual activities took place. The NBI chief said Defensor's wife, Julie, serves as president of the company which owns the hotel.

"Nakita namin 'yung establishment… connected 'yung hotel. Mayroon secret na passage papunta doon sa hotel. May transaksyon, kakausapin 'yung mga… parang manager 'yung tawag tapos magtra-transaksyon," Matibag said in a press conference.

(We saw the establishment… the hotel is connected. There is a secret passage leading to the hotel. There are transactions, they will talk to the… what you might call a manager, and then conduct transactions.)

"Kapag maayos 'yung transaksyon, aakyat sa hagdan sa likod, paakyat, diretso doon sa mga kwarto na pinapalabas nila na hotel. And it so happened the hotel is owned by [a company] kung saan presidente 'yung asawa ni dating Congressman Mike Defensor," he added.

(If the transaction goes smoothly, they go up the stairs at the back, going up, straight to the rooms that they present as a hotel. And it so happened the hotel is owned by [a company] where the spouse of former Congressman Mike Defensor is the president.)

Political play?

Responding to a question from the media, Matibag denied that the filing was political, saying the bureau conducted the operation after receiving intelligence information on the recruitment and exploitation of women for sexual services.

"That's the only time we discovered, when seeing the documents, eto pala, ang mga may-ari, 'yung asawa nga ni Mike Defensor at anak niya. So 'yung mga documents, revealed na sila 'yung may mga kinalaman dito," he said.

(That's the only time we discovered, when seeing the documents, that the owners were actually the spouse of Mike Defensor and their child. So the documents revealed that they were the ones involved in this.)

"Siguro maganda sagutin lang nila dahil malinaw naman, the law is clear kung ano 'yung violation ng anti-human trafficking," he added.

(Maybe it would be better for them to just answer clearly because the law is clear on what constitutes a violation of the anti-human trafficking law.)

The NBI said its agents rescued 54 women. They have been turned over to the appropriate social welfare authorities.

Meanwhile, the bureau also recovered marked money, suspected illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia, and various documents linked to the unlawful activities.

GMA News Online has reached out to Mike Defensor regarding the matter but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

'Political' attack

For her part, Julie denied the allegations.

"I am issuing this statement to categorically and forcefully deny the baseless, malicious allegations directed at me, my daughter, and our associated businesses," she said.

"Let me be absolutely clear regarding the recent NBI operation: we have absolutely no connection to the targeted establishment or its operations," she added.

Julie claimed the motive was an "orchestrated smear campaign" and that because of the "political attacks," around 1,000 employees across various companies have lost their jobs.

"I address Atty. Matibag directly: If you have a political or personal grievance with Mike, have the courage to resolve it with him directly. Stop using me, our daughter, and hundreds of innocent, displaced workers as collateral damage in a dispute that has nothing to do with us," she said.

For his part, Matibag said the operation was meant to be a rescue operation. — VDV, GMA News