‘Honey trap’ plot vs Recto: Subpoenaed lawyers appear before NBI

MANILA, Philippines — Lawyers implicated in the “honey trap” plot against Executive Secretary Ralph Recto appeared before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday, August 14.

The three subpoenaed lawyers arrived around 2 p.m.

“We will not give a statement… No comment,” one of the lawyers said when asked by the media about their alleged involvement in the supposed “honey trap” plot.

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Atty. Ruy Rondain—also the legal counsel for resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co—was likewise expected to appear Monday afternoon but had yet to arrive as of this writing.

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The lawyers, who were allegedly tasked with creating a “script,” or fabricated statements targeting Recto, were originally expected to appear last Friday but requested a reset due to “prior commitments.”

READ: NBI requires 4 lawyers to appear in Recto ‘honey trap’ case

The subpoenas against the lawyers came after a talent manager arrested in a human trafficking case recently submitted a supplemental affidavit identifying the four lawyers by name and providing their photographs.

The talent manager, identified only as “Ken”, earlier told the INQUIRER in an interview that the lawyers were also present during his face-to-face meetings with former Rep. Jing Paras to plan the alleged scheme, in which four women would issue fabricated statements claiming that Recto forced them to use illegal drugs and have sex with him.

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He said two of the lawyers participated in their first meeting on July 15, while all four were present during their second meeting on July 26.

READ: Talent manager details alleged ‘honey trap’ plot vs Recto

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Ken also said the lawyers introduced themselves as representatives of Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste, who was allegedly the financier of the “honey trap” plot.

Both Leviste and Paras have since denied involvement in the supposed modus operandi.

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The former and incumbent lawmakers did not personally appear before the NBI and instead sent lawyers to comply with their respective subpoenas. /mcm