The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will ask the Department of Justice (DoJ) to issue an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) against Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto “Jing” Paras and five others implicated in an alleged “honey trap” plot targeting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto.

NBI director Melvin Matibag said the request follows the filing of qualified human trafficking complaints against the seven before the DoJ last Friday.

Also named in the complaints are talent manager identified by the NBI as an alias Ken and four lawyers from the Rondain and Mendiola Law Firm — Ruy Rondain, Orlando Mendiola, Patrick Criaga and Josemilio Manuel Apostol.

Matibag said the NBI has prepared a letter requesting the ILBO and will submit it to the DoJ this week for endorsement to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

“We will write to the DoJ, with attention to the Bureau of Immigration. I already have the letter prepared, it’s just waiting for my signature,” Matibag said.

An ILBO allows immigration authorities to monitor the travel of persons subject to the order. It differs from a hold departure order which bars a person from leaving the country and must be issued by a court.

The NBI and BI on 6 August separately confirmed that Leviste and his mother, Sen. Loren Legarda, had left the country on separate flights on 2 August.

The NBI launched its investigation into the alleged “honey trap” operation following the 28 July arrest of alias Ken in connection with a human trafficking case.

Alias Ken told investigators that he met with Paras and the lawyers at a restaurant in July to plan a “character assassination” campaign against Recto.

He alleged that four female artists he managed were to make fabricated statements accusing Recto of forcing them to use illegal drugs and engage in sexual acts.

The lawyers, who allegedly introduced themselves as representatives of Leviste, were purportedly tasked with preparing the “script” or fabricated statements against Recto, according to alias Ken.