Former lawmaker Mike Defensor asserted that his family had long divested from the company operating the hotel raided by the National Bureau of Investigation last Tuesday over alleged recruitment and sexual exploitation of women. His wife and son are among 26 charged. The family insists they have had no involvement since 2019.
In Pasig City, NBI agents raided the Chicago Nightclub, which shares a building with the Bleu Hotel managed by Zerrin Development Corp., rescuing 54 women. Julie Defensor is listed as chairman and president, and son Michael Gabriel as treasurer; 26 people, including them, face charges of qualified trafficking and illegal drug possession.
Mike Defensor told One News on Friday that his family relinquished control of the hotel in 2019. "We really had that hotel before and we were operating it, but in 2019, it was taken from us. Another group operated it and they’re paying the rental," he said. He added that his wife has no income or employees from Zerrin records.
This marks the third business linked to the family closed by authorities, Defensor said, including one with 100 employees run by his wife and son, and another where he was a minority president until January. A Duterte ally, he urged keeping families out of political fights and criticized NBI director Melvin Matibag.
Julie Defensor decried a "relentless pattern of harassment," claiming 1,000 employees lost jobs due to her husband's politics. Matibag dismissed political motives, saying the family link was found post-raid and Defensor should welcome the action against wrongdoing tenants.
