Atty. Orlando “Orly” Mendiola said his appearance in CCTV footage linked to an alleged plot to frame Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, including his meeting with several women, was part of an interview conducted by his law firm.

Mendiola said there was no secret plan or malicious intent behind the meeting.

The lawyer recently gained public attention after being subpoenaed by the National Bureau of Investigation in connection with an alleged “honeytrap” plot targeting Recto, an allegation he and his firm have denied.

Mendiola said they interviewed the women after being asked to participate in the process.

He clarified that they interviewed the women who attended the meeting, not “Alias Ken,” the talent manager earlier arrested by the NBI.

The discussion involved legal questions but was not a formal consultation, Mendiola said.

He said the first interview was not completed, prompting a second meeting that did not push through after some expected participants failed to attend.

Mendiola strongly denied any plan to discredit Recto. “There is no such thing. We cannot do that because the interview was not finished,” he said.