NBI files complaint of qualified human trafficking vs Mike Defensor, 6 others

The National Bureau of Investigation-National Capital Region filed a complaint against former congressman Mike Defensor and six others on Friday for qualified human trafficking.

The complaint was filed by the NBI-NCR at the Pasig Prosecutor's Office, according to GMA News reporter John Consulta.

Among the respondents in the complaint is Defensor's wife Julie Rose Defensor.

Aside from qualified human trafficking, the complaint also alleges that the respondents engaged in acts that promote trafficking in persons and used trafficked persons.

To recall, NBI agents raided the Chicago KTV Bar in Pasig City last April and rescued 54 women during the operation.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag on Thursday said Defensor was the chairman of Cliffpoint Development, which operates Cliffpoint Square where the raided 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.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, Defensor decried the NBI's filing of the complaint. He also posted a photo of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. holding a pug with the face of Matibag superimposed on the dog's face.

"GOOD JOB, MATI-PUG! Nag-file na KAHAPON si MATI-PUG ng NON-BAILABLE na KASO laban sa akin at sa aking pamilya! Isinama ang aking ASAWA at DALAWA kong ANAK. Yung ABOGADO kong anak na BUNTIS na Corporate Secretary lang- dinamay pa," he said.

"MAUNA pa akong MAKUKULONG kaysa sa mga KURAKOT na NAGNAKAW sa ating BAYAN. Kahit ISA, wala pang NAPAKULONG ang NBI sa NAKAWAN, pero sa mga NAGSASALITA laban dito ay AGRESIBO si MATI-PUG!," Defensor added.

"Ang aking PANANAMPALATAYA sa DIYOS at ang HINAING ng ating mga KABABAYAN ang aking TANGING PINANGHAHAWAKAN. Hindi ako UURONG! Hindi ako TATAHIMIK!," he added.

On Friday, Defensor said he is ready to face the complaint to be filed by NBI.

“Haharapin ko. At ako, naniniwala, ako wala siyang kakaso-kaso,” Defensor said in an ambush interview.

(I will face it. And I believe there is no case against me.)

The former congressman said the complaint only seeks to silence them.

Earlier this month, Defensor defended the 18 alleged ex-bodyguards of former lawmaker Zaldy Co, rejecting allegations that their testimonies before the Cayetano bloc-led Senate Blue Ribbon committee were scripted and politically motivated.

During the June 4 hearing conducted by the Cayetano bloc, the former bodyguards alleged that they delivered suitcases of money to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Senators Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and Erwin Tulfo, Representative Leila de Lima, and former Rep. France Castro, among others.

These allegations were denied by those mentioned. —KG, GMA News