The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has recommended the prosecution of at least seven individuals for their alleged involvement in a scheme to frame Executive Secretary Ralph Recto using fabricated affidavits, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Thursday, September 10.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida disclosed that the DOJ received the NBI’s final investigation report on September 4, which recommends filing non-bailable charges of Qualified Human Trafficking against the seven respondents.
“Currently, we are already under the evaluation stage and under the rules, we have 10 days to evaluate,” Vida stated.
Under standard DOJ procedures, reviewing prosecutors will determine whether the complaint merits proceeding to a full preliminary investigation or should be dismissed and sent back to the NBI for further action.
The NBI launched its probe following an operation in which agents arrested a talent manager and rescued at least four women. Authorities allege the women were being recruited to concoct a false narrative aimed at securing a criminal complaint against Recto in a coordinated “honey trap” scheme.
Among those named in the NBI recommendation are Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste, former Negros Oriental 1st District Representative Jacinto “Jing” Paras, the arrested talent manager, and four attorneys from an Ortigas-based law firm.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag previously noted that investigators gathered substantial evidence pointing to a deliberate effort to discredit and unseat the Executive Secretary.