NBI details company shares, positions held by Defensor, wife amid trafficking allegations

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday detailed the corporate shares and organizational positions held by former congressman Mike Defensor and his wife in various companies to support its findings that the couple operated the establishments raided for alleged human trafficking.

To recall, NBI agents raided the Chicago KTV Bar in Pasig City last April. They later said the bar was connected to the Bleu Hotel.

According to NBI Director Melvin Matibag, Defensor was the chairman of Cliffpoint Development, which operates Cliffpoint Square where the KTV is located. He said Defensor also holds 65% of Pax Libera Mining, which holds 72.96% of Cliffpoint.

Meanwhile, he said Defensor's wife, Julie, was president of Cliffpoint and chairperson of Bleu Hotel, and their child was its corporate secretary.

"Si Mike ang chairman ng Cliffpoint at Pax Libera. Si Julie Rose ang presidente ng Cliffpoint, CEO ng Pax Libera, at pinaka chairman at presidente ng Bleu Hotel mismo kung saan nangyayari ang krimen ng human trafficking," he said.

(Mike is the chairman of Cliffpoint and Pax Libera. Julie Rose is the president of Cliffpoint, the CEO of Pax Libera, and the chairperson and president of Bleu Hotel itself, where the crime of human trafficking is taking place.)

"Kaya kung pinagsama ang kanilang pagmamayari at ang kanilang mga posisyon, ang may mag-asawa ang may kontrol sa buong operasyon mula sa holding company sa itaas hanggang sa actual bedroom kung saan nagaganap ang krimen," he added.

(If their ownership and positions are taken together, the spouses have control over the entire operation, from the holding company at the top down to the actual bedroom where the crime takes place.)

Matibag said that Defensor was the direct beneficial owner of Cliffpoint with 93% shares in 2003. He said this decreased in 2024 to 2025.

"Hindi po ito nawala. Idinaan lamang sa Pax Libera Mining. Ibig sabihin nilipat lang po 'yung pagmamayari sa Pax Libera Mining na kanina, we already established na ang Pax Libera Mining ay sa mga Defensor din," he said.

(It did not disappear. It was merely transferred through Pax Libera Mining. That means the ownership was simply transferred to Pax Libera Mining, which, as we already established earlier, is also owned by the Defensors.)

On Wednesday, Matibag said the NBI will file a complaint against Defensor over his supposed links to the Chicago KTV Bar.

Defensor has said the allegations against him are fabricated, and that he is ready to face them. Moreover, Defensor said a cabinet secretary and a senator also invested in Cliffpoint Development Corp.

His wife, Julie, earlier said she and her child have "absolutely no connection to the targeted establishment or its operations."

Appeal to the NBI

Defensor has said the NBI is being used for politics, adding that people should not believe the bureau director.

"Huwag po kayo maniniwala kay Atty. Melvin Matibag dahil po 'yan ay bobo. Tanga po 'yan. Hindi niya alam ang kanyang ginagawa... Para po sa ating bayan, sa mga kawani ng NBI, 'wag po tayo magpagamit. Napakaganda ng ating ahensya, respetado po tayo, wag po tayo pagagamit dito sa mga kalokohan na ginagawa ng NBI na pang politika lamang," Defensor said.

(Do not believe Atty. Melvin Matibag because he is an idiot. He is stupid. He does not know what he is doing... For the sake of our country and the personnel of the NBI, let us not allow ourselves to be used. Our agency is excellent, we are respected, so let us not allow ourselves to be used in these foolish acts by the NBI that are merely political.)

However, Matibag said such statements do not remove Defensor's accountability, asserting that the former congressman's remarks only shows that he cannot counter the allegations.

"Simple lang naman 'yan. Kapag 'yung argumento wala kang masasabi na pang kontra o contradicting doon sa ebidensya, ang gagawin mo sasabihin mo na lang na bobo at tanga 'yung isang tao," he said.

(It's really simple. When you have nothing to say to counter or contradict the evidence, what you do is simply call the other person an idiot and stupid.)

GMA News Online has reached out to Defensor for comment, but he has yet to respond as of posting time. GMA News Online has sent a request for comment to Pax Libera Mining and is currently reaching out to Cliffpoint Development.

The NBI earlier said a total of 54 women were rescued during the operation, which stemmed from reports from a confidential informant about the alleged recruitment and exploitation of women for sexual services.

The bureau said the women were allegedly chosen by customers and brought to a hotel after being presented through a "line-up" system.

A total of 15 individuals were arrested from the operation, while authorities recovered marked money, suspected illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia, and documentary evidence. — VDV, GMA News