MANILA — Former lawmaker Mike Defensor on Friday said he is prepared to face the qualified human trafficking charges that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) plans to file against him over his alleged ties to a KTV bar and hotel purportedly used for human trafficking.

In a report, it said that Defensor, however, maintained that there is no strong evidence linking him to the operation of the establishments, saying his family’s involvement is limited to ownership of the building where the businesses are located.

“Kasi nga kami ang may-ari ng building, marami kaming lessor, I think about 20 lessors, ni hindi naman ako ang nagma-manage ng building so yung 20 lessors na iyon, kung anuman iyong activity nila hindi mo naman alam, biglang kunyari doon pala sa isang opisina nagbebenta ng droga, hindi naman kami sakop noon at hindi kami involved sa ganoon,” Defensor said.

Defensor made the statement while at the Department of Justice, where he filed his rejoinder to a cyberlibel complaint lodged against him by former senator Antonio Trillanes.

He claimed that the non-bailable human trafficking charge being pursued by NBI Director Melvin Matibag is intended to pressure and silence him because he serves as the handler of the 18 alleged former bodyguards of former congressman Zaldy Co.

“Talagang nanggigipit nang husto ang NBI, hindi ang NBI as an institution but ang NBI being used as a weapon by Atty. Melvin Matibag, siya talaga ang nagtutulak niyan, at siyempre ang gusto niya gipitin ang aking pamilya, gipitin kami, patahimikin kami,” Defensor said.

He also said government agencies should continue investigating the allegations raised by the former bodyguards, as he criticized the cyberlibel complaint filed by Trillanes against the 18 individuals, as well as Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Rodante Marcoleta.

“Parang hindi tama dahil dapat malaya nating malaman ang katotohanan, malaya nating malaman kung ano ang sinasabi ng marines at imbestigahan, ang nangyayari tulad ngayon nahinto na naman dahil nagpalit nga ng liderato ang Blue Ribbon Committee, wala na naman,” Defensor said.

Defensor also announced that he would participate in the anti-corruption rally organized by various religious groups on June 28.