Defensor slapped raps without bail

A qualified human trafficking charge, which is a non-bailable offense, was filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against former representative Mike Defensor and his wife, Julie Defensor, before the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office.

The complaint stemmed from Defensor’s alleged connection to the Chicago KTV bar and Bleu Hotel in Pasig City, where human trafficking activities involving more than 50 women supposedly took place.

The NBI also lodged charges of Acts that Promote Trafficking in Persons in violation of Section 5(a) of Republic Act 9208, as amended by RA 10364 and RA 11862 against Defensor and his wife as the chairperson and president, respectively, of the Cliffpoint Development Corp. which operates Cliffpoint Square, the compound where the Chicago KTV bar and Bleu Hotel are located.

Kids also charged

Also named respondents were Defensor’s daughter, Michaela, as the corporate secretary of Cliffpoint, as well as two directors and the treasurer of the corporation.

Aside from this, charges of Acts that Promote Trafficking in Persons in violation of Section 5(a) of RA 9208 were filed against Julie Defensor as the chairperson and president of Zerrin Development Corp. that operates the Bleu Hotel and their son, Miguel Gabriel, as the treasurer of the corporation.

The allegations of human trafficking were denied by Defensor.

The former lawmaker said there was “no truth” of their involvement in sexual exploitation activities and called it “politically motivated.”

The NBI last 21 April raided the KTV bar after receiving reports of alleged sexual exploitation involving more than 50 women victims who were supposedly made to work as “customer care assistants” for fees of around P15,000.