NBI to subpoena 4 lawyers over alleged plot vs. Exec. Sec. Ralph Recto

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will issue subpoenas to four lawyers over the alleged plot to frame Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said Friday. Matibag said the lawyers prepared the affidavits for the alleged plot. "It is clear that they have been identified because the witnesses identified them as the ones who were present at the meeting," he said in an ambush interview. Matibag said the bureau will issue the subpoena on Monday to summon the lawyers to appear before the bureau on Friday. To recall, NBI agents rescued several individuals during an entrapment operation. Some of the victims later bared that former lawmaker Jing Paras allegedly told them they would be paid to create a story and sign an affidavit, and they would receive their payment in tranches as the case went on. The bureau has also issued subpoenas to Paras and Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste, who was supposedly mentioned by the former lawmaker to the women. "Is it true you called up Ken yesterday and why are you calling the supposed to be person of interest in this matter?" he said. Matibag said the former lawmaker supposedly called alias Ken on Thursday. "Yesterday. We saw it on Ken's phone itself. Because we have to remember that his phone is an evidence of an ongoing investigation." He also asked Leviste if he was categorically denying that he talked with Paras. Both Paras and Leviste have denied the allegations against them. — with John Consulta/RSJ, GMA News