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In this photo uploaded on Facebook on May 9, 2022 shows former Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor with his wife Julie.
Mike Defensor via Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — The wife of former lawmaker Mike Defensor has broken her silence, denying allegations linking her and her daughter to an establishment recently raided by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
In a statement sent to reporters, Julie Defensor, the former lawmaker’s wife, called the claims against their family a "deliberate, dangerous, and desperate lie" aimed at fulfilling a political vendetta.
“Let me be absolutely clear regarding the recent NBI operation: we have absolutely no connection to the targeted establishment or its operations. Any attempt to link our family to the abhorrent acts allegedly committed there is a deliberate, dangerous, and desperate lie,” Defensor said.
“The motive behind this orchestrated smear campaign is painfully obvious. This is a fabricated pretext designed to artificially manufacture a case, with the chilling goal of filing unwarranted, unbailable charges against me and my daughter,” she added.
According to Julie Defensor, the "relentless pattern of harassment" has resulted in approximately 1,000 employees losing their jobs across various companies.
She claimed these workers were terminated simply due to their perceived association with her husband.
“These are 1,000 families stripped of their livelihoods in the middle of a crisis. It is unconscionable that innocent workers are being sacrificed as pawns in someone else's political vendetta,” the former lawmaker’s wife said.
On April 24, the NBI filed drug and human trafficking complaints against the wife and son of former lawmaker Mike Defensor, linking them to a raided establishment in Pasig City on April 21.
The bureau said complaints for violations of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act were filed with the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office last Friday, April 24.
The filing followed a Tuesday raid on an establishment suspected of hosting a human trafficking ring.
Conducted by the NBI’s Special Task Group after reports of sexual exploitation and illegal recruitment, the operation resulted in the rescue of 54 women and several arrests.
Investigators allege that sexual encounters were sold for between P5,000 and P15,000, with proceeds distributed among managers and facilitators.
During the search, authorities recovered marked money, business documents and suspected narcotics along with drug paraphernalia.
According to the NBI, corporate filings list the establishment as being registered under the names of Defensor’s wife and child.
However, the NBI clarified that this information is part of an active investigation and "does not, by itself, establish criminal liability" for the registered owners.
In March, Julie’s husband, Mike, made headlines when the Commission on Elections (Comelec) recommended filing complaints against him over undisclosed campaign donations made to Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.
Additionally, Defensor was linked to a February "expose" involving 18 individuals, who are alleged to be former military members. These men claimed they were responsible for transporting bribe money on behalf of former lawmaker Zaldy Co.
