Jonathan Frederic De Santos

NBI seen at Pasig RTC after announcement trafficking raps ready vs. Defensor

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

Allison Co

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED) </strong>— The National Bureau of Investigation has filed trafficking charges against former Anakalusugan Party-List Rep. Mike Defensor, his wife Julie Rose and two of their children in relation to a raid on a KTV bar and hotel in Pasig City in April.</p><p>NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirmed that the bureau filed the qualified human trafficking charges on Friday. Other officials connected to the KTV bar and hotel are also named as respondents in the complaint. </p><p>The case was submitted to the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office on Friday afternoon, June 26. </p><p>During a press briefing on Thursday, Matibag said investigators uncovered a concealed passage not reflected in the building’s approved plans, linking the KTV establishment to Bleu Hotel, where victims were allegedly transported.</p><p>Defensor and his wife have denied the allegations, with the former congressman saying the raps are politically motivated.</p><p>The NBI rescued more than 50 women from the KTV bar, which they said was being used as a prostitution den, in the April raid.</p><p>Julie Defensor is chairman and president of Bleu Hotel, while their son Miguel is listed as the hotel’s treasurer.</p><p>The former congressman is chair of Cliffpoint Development Corp., the company operating Cliffpoint Square where the KTV bar is located. Daughter Michaelais corporate secretary.</p><p>NBI agents were seen carrying boxes as they entered the Pasig Regional Trial Court earlier Friday.</p><p>This comes after Matibag announced on Thursday that the agency will file qualified human trafficking charges against Defensor and other officials.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/28/pasig-issues-closure-order-vs-hotel-supposedly-owned-by-mike-defensor-over-alleged-trafficking-1257">Pasig orders closure of hotel supposedly owned by Mike Defensor over alleged trafficking<br/></a></div><p>According to a logbook from the Pasig RTC, the agents’ stated agenda at the Prosecutor’s Office was “for filing.”</p><p>However, agents refused to answer reporters’ questions on details of the supposed filing.</p><div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:514px;height:673px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2070430434299936938&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-06-26T11%3A24%3A34.682578%3Ac598a173-ca14-4a0c-947d-c26710f85ca1%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=4f1f28354c07a96d04f5d7b54fb9885f0ef26dbf&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="2070430434299936938"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>The NBI earlier reported that investigators discovered a hidden passage not reflected in the building’s approved plans and that linked the entertainment bar to Bleu Hotel, where victims were allegedly transported.</p><p>Aside from the alleged structural modifications that facilitated human trafficking operations, Matibag disclosed claims of sexual exploitation and poor working conditions suffered by more than 50 women rescued during the operation.</p><p>The Pasig City government issued a closure order against the hotel in April. </p><p>Human trafficking charges were earlier filed against Julie and Miguel Defensor.</p><div><a class="fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/24/nbi-to-file-raps-vs-mike-defensor-over-bar-raid-1157">NBi to file raps against Mike Defensor over human trafficking</a> </div><p>Ex-Rep. Defensor said he is ready to face the charges but stressed there is no strong evidence against him.</p><p>He added that the accusation was created to silence him as the handler of the 18 ex-bodyguards of former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.</p><p>His wife also previously dismissed the allegations against their family and their businesses as baseless, malicious, and part of a “relentless pattern of harassment” against the family.</p><p>The Office of the Ombudsman earlier said it is preparing a plunder case against ex. Rep. Defensor over undeclared campaign contributions to Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.</p><p>The Commission on Elections has also recommended complaints against the former lawmaker.</p><div><a class="fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/19/defensor-decries-double-standard-in-looming-election-complaint-vs-marcoleta-campaign-donors-1556">Defensor decries ‘double standard’ in Comelec decision clearing Marcoleta, ordering complaint vs donors</a></div>

<p>National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents were seen carrying boxes as they entered the Pasig Regional Trial Court on Friday.</p>

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents were seen carrying boxes as they entered the Pasig Regional Trial Court on Friday.

NBI files qualified trafficking raps vs Defensor, wife and children

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NBI files qualified trafficking raps vs Defensor, wife and children

Kaxandra Salonga,

Allison Co,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 26, 2026 07:51 PM PHT

|

Updated June 26, 2026 08:08 PM PHT

Read More:

Mike Defensor

human trafficking

NBI

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