NBI: 4 lawyers in ‘honey trap’ plot vs Recto seek appearance reset

MANILA, Philippines — The four lawyers implicated in the “honey trap” plot against Executive Secretary Ralph Recto have requested to reset their appearance before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to Monday, August 17.

The lawyers, allegedly tasked with creating a “script,” or fabricated statements targeting Recto, were originally expected to appear this Friday.

In a Viber message to the INQUIRER, NBI-National Capital Region regional director Emeterio Dongallo Jr. said the four lawyers asked for a reset of their subpoena appearance due to “prior commitments.”

“They requested to appear instead this coming Monday at 2 p.m. Pinagbigyan naman po natin,” Dongallo said.

(They requested to appear instead this coming Monday at 2 p.m. We granted it.)

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

Without naming them, NBI Director Melvin Matibag earlier confirmed that all four lawyers being subpoenaed belong to the Rondain & Mendiola law firm in Ortigas.

The law firm was founded by Atty. Ruy Rondain, who is also the legal counsel for resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.

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

The talent manager, identified only as Alias Ken, earlier told the INQUIRER in an interview that the lawyers were also present during his face-to-face meetings with former Cong. 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.

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

Alias Ken also earlier said that 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.

The two did not personally appear before the NBI and instead only sent lawyers to comply with their respective subpoenas last week. /jpv