Recto ‘smear plot’ faces probe

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday said it is investigating an alleged smear campaign targeting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, even as Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste and former Negros Congressman Jacinto “Jing” Paras had been summoned to appear before investigators.

NBI director Melvin Matibag said subpoenas have been issued directing Leviste and Paras to attend a hearing on Thursday after their names surfaced in statements given by suspects arrested in an entrapment operation.

“As of now, we cannot say they are guilty. They were mentioned by the persons we arrested. We have to inform them that they were mentioned. That is part of due process in an investigation,” Matibag said.

The investigation stems from an NBI operation at a five-star hotel in Malate, Manila, where agents arrested a talent manager and rescued five women.

According to Matibag, the talent manager admitted he had allegedly been hired to recruit four women to falsely accuse Recto of using illegal drugs and coercing them into sexual acts. The women were allegedly promised a total of P5 million.

Matibag described the alleged scheme as an apparent character assassination campaign and said investigators are also looking into whether the supposed masterminds intended to target sitting senators if the plot against Recto had succeeded.

He said investigators recovered screenshots of digital conversations allegedly linking Paras to the operation. A forensic examination of the former lawmaker’s voluntarily surrendered mobile phone also found that some allegedly incriminating text messages had been deleted.

Paras tagged

Matibag, however, stressed that investigators are still evaluating all available evidence. “There are already admissions or confessions from the subjects. That is why they are being subpoenaed — to clarify what their participation really was,” he said.

He urged Leviste and Paras to cooperate with the investigation, warning that the NBI would proceed based on the evidence already gathered if they fail to appear.

“If they do not attend, we will proceed based on the evidence before us,” he said. Matibag added that if the allegations against the two men prove to be fabricated, the NBI would help them pursue charges against those responsible.

“If these stories were simply invented, we are willing to help them prosecute those personalities,” he said.