Palace Denounces 'Sexual, Character Assassination' Plot vs. Executive Secretary Recto

Malacañang on Monday blamed unnamed political figures for allegedly trying to frame Executive Secretary Ralph Recto in a sex scandal, accusing them of sowing the chaos they have attributed to the Marcos administration. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro linked the alleged scheme to a broader political attack against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., although she did not identify those she was referring to. "The vice president said our country is in chaos. Who is creating chaos in our country? Definitely not President Marcos Jr. Which allies are being accused of doing this?" Castro said at a press briefing Monday, Aug. 3. Castro described those allegedly behind the plot as "inhuman, selfish, and power hungry" and "used to planting evidence." She also cited the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte in criticizing the alleged scheme. "We do not want what we experienced under the previous administration, but they continue to do it today." The National Bureau of Investigation earlier said it would summon Rep. Leandro Leviste (Batangas 1st District) and former presidential adviser for political affairs Jacinto Paras over their alleged involvement. Both have denied the allegations. The investigation stemmed from an NBI-National Capital Region operation at a luxury hotel in Manila, where agents arrested a talent manager and said they rescued five women from alleged human trafficking. NBI Director Melvin Matibag later said one of the women claimed there was a plan to lure Recto into sexual activity and then accuse him of drugging the women with cocaine to damage his reputation. Matibag said the woman identified Leviste as the alleged source of funds for the operation. Paras, who served under the Duterte administration, was accused of contacting the arrested suspect and acting as an intermediary between the talent manager and Leviste. The allegations have not been proven in court. Matibag said Recto may not have been the only target and that the NBI was examining whether the alleged operation was part of a broader destabilization effort. "We may be able to link this to destabilization, so we will investigate this," Matibag said Friday, July 31. The NBI has not announced a finding that the alleged plot formed part of a destabilization campaign.