Matibag: Human trafficking evidence vs. Defensor ‘strong’

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has “strong” evidence that would indict former lawmaker Mike Defensor in the qualified human trafficking charges that will be filed against him, according to NBI Director Melvin Matibag.

Matibag earlier announced that the NBI will file qualified human trafficking complaints against Defensor, his wife Julie, their daughter Michaela, among others, before the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office on Friday.

The charges stem from their supposed ties to the Chicago KTV bar and Bleu Hotel, which were allegedly used to commit human trafficking.

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READ: NBI to file human trafficking complaint vs Mike Defensor Friday

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“Mike Defensor and his family are innocent until proven otherwise. That’s all, the evidence is strong,” Matibag said in a press conference on Thursday.

According to Matibag, the NBI will not file the complaints if they do not align with Department of Justice Memorandum Circular No. 20, which states that there is a “reasonable certainty of conviction.”

“This means that the NBI, those who investigated this, are certain. That’s why it took a while, two months, because we studied carefully what evidence would be submitted to the prosecutor and what would eventually be used as evidence by the prosecutor when it goes to court,” he explained in Filipino.

He also showed the corporate structure of Cliffpoint Development Corp., which operates Cliffpoint Square, the compound where the Chicago KTV bar and Bleu Hotel are located.

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According to Matibag, 72.96 percent of Cliffpoint Development Corp. was owned by Pax Libera Mining. He also said 75.54 percent of Pax Libera was controlled by the Defensors.

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The former congressman is the chair of Cliffpoint, while his wife is the president, and their daughter, Michaela, is the corporate secretary.

Matibag reiterated that Julie serves as chairperson and president of Bleu Hotel.

Matibag also showed a photo of what he called an “unhealthy” and “unsanitary” environment in the KTV bar and hotel, where clogged sinks, used pregnancy tests, and contraceptives were found.

“They (victims) are exposed every night to this type of unhealthy working environment,” the NBI director said in Filipino.

“Many of them are single mothers who want to earn money. They are vulnerable,” he added.

On Wednesday, the NBI presented to the media the blueprint of the Chicago KTV Bar and Bleu Hotel, reiterating that the structure of the building was secretly changed to “perpetrate human trafficking activities.”

Defensor has denied the allegations, saying there is “no truth” to the human trafficking allegations connected to their names.

The former congressman said he is ready to face the charges that will be filed against him.

Defensor likewise argued that instead of “politicizing” him, the NBI should probe corruption in the country.

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Last April 21, the NBI raided the KTV bar over alleged sexual exploitation involving more than 50 women victims who were supposedly made to work as “customer care assistants” in exchange for a fee of around P15,000. /mcm