Leviste Skips NBI Hearing; Rescheduled for Next Week

Batangas Representative Leanne Leviste failed to appear at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday as summoned over alleged character assassination plots against Executive Secretary Ralph Recto. The NBI had summoned Leviste and former lawmaker Jing Paras, who are accused of orchestrating a honeytrap plot where they allegedly hired women to make false allegations against the Palace official. "Alas-dos pasado na po, ang appearance po ay alas-diyes, so it is safe to assume na hindi na pupunta ‘yung sinubpoena natin…si Congressman Leviste," NBI-NCR Regional Director Emeterio Dongallo Jr. told reporters. (It is past 2:00 p.m., his appearance was 10:00 a.m., so it is safe to say that he will not come… Congressman Leviste.) "It's safe to assume that neither he or his representatives will be here," Dongallo added in Filipino and English. Meanwhile, Paras' counsel had already contacted the NBI asking to reschedule, so Dongallo said they already anticipated that the former lawmaker will not attend on Thursday. "Congressman Jing Paras, through his lawyers, wrote to us yesterday, requesting documents on and resetting his appearance, so we allowed it and reset it next week," Dongallo said. While Leviste did not show up on his intended schedule, his lawyers did reach out to the NBI. However, they did not specify if Leviste wanted to change his designated time, the agency executive said. Despite Leviste not asking to reschedule, Dongallo said that the NBI will also reset his appointment. He explained that government work was already suspended due to the inclement weather. Both Paras and Leviste are expected to go to the NBI on Tuesday, August 11. However, Dongallo clarified that since the NBI does not have contempt powers, the agency will simply have to carry on with their investigation if Leviste and Paras do not answer the summons. Dongallo said the lawyers of Leviste and Paras have asked the NBI for more details about the case, asking for relevant documents that they could study. The executive said that this was normal practice for lawyers. However, Dongallo said that the NBI denied both requests, as this may compromise the ongoing investigation. They would only be allowed to see these documents if they went to the NBI. The NBI official reiterated that neither Paras nor Leviste are being treated as respondents or persons of interest, saying they are currently considered resource persons. GMA News Online has reached out to Leviste for his side and will update the story once he responds. —RF, GMA News