The National Bureau of Investigation has filed human trafficking charges against the wife and son of former congressman Mike Defensor, connecting the family to a hotel in Pasig City where 54 women were allegedly sexually exploited.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirmed to the Inquirer on Friday that the charges were filed Thursday at the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office against Julie Defensor and Miguel Defensor, along with other individuals, for violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
Investigators determined that the Defensor family owns the hotel where the alleged exploitation took place. The 54 female victims were recovered during a recent NBI raid on a disco bar in the same city, where they had reportedly been deployed as “customer care assistants” — a cover for sexual services rendered at rates between P10,000 and P20,000 per transaction.
The filing at the prosecutor’s office marks the start of the preliminary investigation phase, where the respondents will have an opportunity to answer the charges before a determination is made on whether to elevate the case to court.
