THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday filed qualified human trafficking charges against the wife of former lawmaker Mike Defensor, Julie Rose Defensor, and other personalities linked to a KTV bar in Pasig City that was raided over alleged sexual exploitation activities.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag said during a media briefing the case was based on evidence gathered during the April raid, including documents, corporate records and findings from the rescue operation involving more than 50 alleged victims.
Matibag presented photos and other evidence recovered from the establishment, including pregnancy test kits that he said were allegedly used to determine whether female workers had become pregnant.
He said the NBI considered the women vulnerable because many were single mothers seeking employment and income, making them susceptible to exploitation.
He rejected claims that no trafficking occurred because the women were not physically forced, saying exploitation could also happen through economic vulnerability and the circumstances surrounding their employment.
“They are not just numbers. They are the reason why we are here,” Matibag said, referring to the alleged victims.
The NBI also presented its findings that the Defensor family maintained control of the establishment through ownership interests and corporate positions.
Matibag said records from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) showed that control of CliffPoint Development Corp. was linked to Pax Libera Mining, which the NBI claimed was also controlled by the Defensor family.
He said members of the Defensor family held key positions in the companies, describing the arrangement as an “interlocking directorate” where ownership and management remained within the family.
According to Matibag, Defensor’s ownership of CliffPoint may have waned over the years, but the NBI found that control remained through related corporations.
“The form and structure may have changed, but control remained with the Defensor couple and their family,” he said.
He also responded to accusations from Defensor that the investigation was politically motivated, saying the bureau relied on official documents and evidence gathered during the investigation.
Regarding reports of illegal drugs found during the raid, Matibag said individuals allegedly caught using prohibited substances had already been charged, while other possible liabilities connected to the establishment were being investigated.
