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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Honeytrap' could be part of bigger plot to discredit PBBM, Matibag says

'Honeytrap' could be part of bigger plot to discredit PBBM, Matibag says

Published Aug 8, 2026 04:52 pm
NBI Director Melvin Matibag (Mark Balmores)
NBI Director Melvin Matibag (Mark Balmores)
The “honeytrap” scheme could be part of the bigger plot to discredit the administration of President Marcos, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said as it disclosed that it has been looking into that angle.
NBI director Melvin Matibag said that while Executive Secretary Ralph Recto appeared to be the main target of the character assassination plot, the revelation of the arrested middleman revealed a possible main goal of discrediting the Marcos administration.
The middleman is the talent manager of the four women who were supposed to provide statements that they were forced into using illegal drugs and that they engaged in sexual activities with Recto.
“The statement of the talent manager based on the statement of congressman Jing Paras when they met was that the plot had something to do with local politics in Batangas,” said Matibag in a press forum in Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City
Paras is former congressman of Negros Oriental and based on the statement of the middleman, he was tapped by Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste to discredit Recto and other ranking government officials. Leviste denied the allegation.
Recto’s wife, actress Vilma Santos, is the governor of Batangas, a post that is allegedly the target of one of the brains of the “honeytrap” plot.
But Matibag said the motive could be a blend of besmirching Recto and discrediting the Marcos administration.
“It could be a combination of that because we cannot deny that the Executive Secretary is the little president,” said Matibag.
“So anything that will create a black eye or stigma on the Executive Secretary will also somehow affect the entire administration. That’s why we are looking into that angle,” he added.
Matibag revealed that the NBI has enough evidence to file complaints against Leviste, Paras and others involved, including four lawyers from a prominent law firm with offices in Pasig City.
He said two of the four lawyers, who were allegedly tasked to prepare the affidavits of the four girls who would fabricate their stories against Recto, are senior partners in the Ortigas law firm, while the other two are new practitioners.
Matibag said the middleman has executed an affidavit which the NBI will use against those that would possibly face charges of human trafficking in relation to the supposed campaign to malign Recto.
Aside from Recto, other alleged targets are Department of Public Works and Highways Vince Dizon, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Ombudsman Boying Remulla.

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NBI PBBM destabilization plot
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