Metro Manila, Philippines – National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag shut down allegations that the raids on establishments linked to former Rep. Mike Defensor, a vocal critic of the Marcos administration, were politically motivated.
In a forum on Saturday, the NBI chief denied the claims and called on the ex-solon’s camp to prove the bureau wrong for linking the family to the establishments and illegal activities.
“Dini-deflect mo lang. Sinasabi mo ‘Pulitika yan.’ What I want to hear is sabihin mo walang human trafficking dito. At pangalawa, hindi kami ang may-ari niyan,” the director said.
“Wala akong narinig na ganon. Ang narinig ko lang personal pulitika to. Those are all weak arguments who appeal to the emotions of the people,” he added.
[Translation: You just deflect it. You say ‘That’s politics.’ What I want to hear is that there is no human trafficking here. And secondly, that you are not the owner. I didn’t hear anything like that. All I heard was personal politics. Those are all weak arguments that appeal to the emotions of the people.]
Matibag’s statement comes two days after the NBI filed complaints against the wife and son of Defensor over their alleged involvement in human trafficking.
The complaints were filed before the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office, with the bureau noting that Defensor’s wife and son were listed as owners in the articles of incorporation of the nightclub recently raided.
Julie Defensor, the ex-lawmaker’s wife, has since denied all allegations and urged the bureau to cease what she called a “relentless pattern of harassment” against the family.
She also dared Matibag to settle any “political or personal grievance” with her husband directly.
