NBI to subpoena Leviste, Paras over alleged frame-up plot vs Recto

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation is set to subpoena Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste and former Negros Oriental Representative Jing Paras next week regarding an alleged honeytrap and human trafficking scheme intended to frame Executive Secretary Ralph Recto.

During a Friday interview, NBI Director Melvin Matibag revealed that notices had been prepared for delivery yesterday to Leviste and Paras, mandating their attendance at the bureau either Wednesday or Thursday of the following week.

“They should clarify this because it’s hard to deny it on social media alone,” Matibag said.

In separate Viber messages to the Inquirer, Leviste and Paras denied any involvement in the alleged plot.

“I have nothing to do with Recto’s alleged womanizing at [well-known commercial spot]. It can be proven that I have never spoken to any of these people — it would be better to ask Recto if he knows them,” Leviste said.

He also made an earlier denial on Facebook. “There is a high-ranking government official who seems to be flirting at [certain place]. I had nothing to do with that,” Leviste wrote.

Entrapment

“He got defensive and spread fake news. But then it was suddenly deleted. Did he delete that article because he didn’t want the truth to come out?” he added.

Paras, on the other hand, described the allegations as “hearsay.”

READ: Palace clueless on Leviste’s claims vs Recto critics

“Will follow lawful procedures. Will tell the truth and debunk the lies being spread in the media at the proper venue,” Paras said.

“My lawyer will give me the proper advice at the proper time,” he replied, when asked if he will comply with the subpoena.

In his interview, the NBI director said the “bugaw” scheme was exposed during an entrapment operation conducted by agents from the bureau’s National Capital Region at a five-star hotel in Malate, Manila, on Tuesday.

The entrapment resulted in the arrest of talent manager Lito de Guzman and five female talents who were taken into protective custody.

Matibag said the talent manager claimed that Paras had contacted him to recruit four women and have them fabricate statements accusing Recto of forcing them to engage in sex and use illegal drugs. They were to be paid P5 million in total for the scheme.

Financier?

De Guzman also told the NBI that Leviste was the financier of the plot, according to Matibag.

He said the bureau had seen the exchange of messages between De Guzman and Paras, and that it had authenticated the number as belonging to the former lawmaker.

“The conversation was there. ‘Let’s proceed…’ that’s how it was. Eventually when we checked again, Cong. Jing Paras had deleted the messages,” Matibag said.

He added that De Guzman told investigators certain lawyers were also in the meetings and their task was to prepare the filing of fabricated charges against Recto.

Matibag said the NBI plans to subpoena the lawyers as soon as they are identified.

READ: Marcos hands off on Recto-Leviste feud, Palace says

He detailed that De Guzman and the talents were promised 30 percent of the P5-million payment on Aug. 3 upon signing the affidavit against Recto, 40 percent to be paid once the case was filed, and 30 percent would remain on hold while the case was ongoing.

“It’s really a human trafficking operation. It turns out there is a deeper political aspect that we can probably link to destabilization. So we will investigate this,” Matibag said.

He added that when the NBI executed a cyber warrant on the talent manager’s phone, operatives found other personalities he transacted with for the alleged human trafficking modus.

Matibag revealed that the plot against Recto was planned for next week or after President Marcos’ State of the Nation Address.

‘Character assassination’

He described the plot as “character assassination,” saying that it was not only the executive secretary being targeted.

“It seems it’s one of many. They have a plan, they want to use this group to carry out some kind of character assassination. That’s the term used,” Matibag said. “If this succeeds, others will follow. We could be a target, including our senators. So we will not allow this.”

The feud between Recto and Leviste — both from Batangas — sparked in May, when the latter delivered a speech at the House of Representatives accusing the executive secretary of corruption and vote-buying. /cb

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