NBI raps Defensors for trafficking, drugs
The National Bureau of Investigation has filed charges against the wife and son of former Rep. Mike Defensor for allegedly being involved in a human trafficking case, but Defensor’s wife Julie, slammed NBI Director Melvin Matibag for his “baseless” and “malicious” lies against them.
“Let me be absolutely clear regarding the recent NBI operation,” Julie said in a statement. “We have absolutely no connection to the targeted establishment or its operations. Any attempt to link our family to the abhorrent acts allegedly committed there is a deliberate, dangerous, and desperate lie.”
The former congressman has not issued any statement at press time, but his wife said, “This is part of a relentless pattern of harassment, and the collateral damage is devastating.”
“Because of these political attacks, approximately 1,000 hardworking employees across various companies have abruptly lost their jobs—simply due to a perceived association with my husband, Mike. These are 1,000 families stripped of their livelihoods in the middle of a crisis,” Defensor added.
She issued the statement after the NBI filed a case for violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 against Julie Defensor, her son, Miguel Defensor and 24 individuals at the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday.
The charges were filed after NBI agents conducted an entrapment and rescue operation on April 21 after receiving information about the ongoing sexual trade in the establishment.
Matibag said the 54 female victims were supposedly being made “customer care assistants” for sexual exploitation in exchange for a fee of around P15,000.
He said the corporate record obtained in the investigation showed that Julie and Miguel are the registered owners of the establishment.
Upon rescuing the 54 victims, 16 of the 26 charged individuals—including managers, officers, facilitators and customers—were arrested.
Grievances
Matibag also said agents recovered illegal drugs on the table, noting that the room also seemed to have become a “drug den.”
Julie also directly addressed Matibag, saying that “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.
Matibag claimed that Julie was listed as chairperson and Miguel Defensor was listed as treasurer of Zerrin Development Corp., the entity that owns the Bleu Hotel, the establishment where the trafficking scheme allegedly operated.
The NBI claims the women were recruited as “customer care assistants” and subjected to sexual acts in hotel rooms for P15,000 but aside from alleged ownership of the Bleu Hotel, NBI agents have not clarified how they connected the Defensors to human trafficking.
Sought for comment on Julie’s remarks, Matibag denied that the operation was “politically motivated” since it was focused on the supposed victims of human trafficking.
“Upon rescuing them, that’s the only time we discovered, upon seeing the documents, that this was owned by the wife and child of Mike Defensor,” Matibag said.
In March, Matibag’s office subpoenaed Mike Defensor, lawyer Levito Baligod and 18 alleged former Marines regarding their claims that they delivered cash for kickbacks from flood control projects.
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