NBI Director Denies Claim of 'Order' from Congressman, Amid Political Plot Allegations

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag on Tuesday denied claims that he was "ordered" to conduct a probe against Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste amid an alleged plot to frame Executive Secretary Ralph Recto. “Wala pong utos sa akin. Ang akin pong commitment ay sa batas at sa mandato ng NBI na sinusunod po natin ang ebidensya, ang proseso at naayon sa batas ang ating imbestigasyon,” Matibag said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB. (There were no orders given to me. My commitment is to the law and to the mandate of the NBI. We follow the evidence, observe due process, and conduct our investigation in accordance with the law.) Matibag's statement comes a day after Leviste made the claims in a social media post. “Sasabihin ko na lang na, dahil kilala mo ako, alam mong hindi ako sinungaling, at totoo ang sinasabi kong ‘Gawang Recto’ lang ang kwentong ito. Alam kong inutusan ka lang, kaya pinapatawad kita," Leviste said on his Facebook account on Monday. (I will just say that, because you know me, you know I am not a liar and that what I am saying is true and that what I am saying is that the story is "Made in Recto." I know you were only following orders, so I forgive you.) Matibag, meanwhile, questioned why he is being forgiven, maintaining that he has done nothing wrong. “Ang tingin ko sa kanya, that was 2025 August, eh malayo ‘yung mararating niya, na mabuting tao siya. But people change, ano po, diba po? Ang sabi ko ngang sagot diyan, no one is above the law,” Matibag said. (I thought that back in August 2025, he would go far and that he was a good person. But people change, don’t they? As I said in response to that, no one is above the law.) Matibag also said that the post is proof of his character that he will hold anyone accountable, even if they are his friends. Meanwhile, Matibag said that Leviste was mentioned by former lawmaker Jing Paras to the women. “Ang kausap at kaharap nila mismo kasama si dating congressman Jing Paras at ‘yung pag lutang ng pangalan ni Congressman Leviste ay nanggaling po ‘yan kay Congressman Jing Paras,” he said. (The person they were speaking with and dealing with directly was former Congressman Jing Paras. And the mention of Congressman Leviste’s name came from former Congressman Jing Paras.) Earlier, Matibag said the bureau will issue subpoenas for Leviste and Paras. Matibag previously bared that Paras allegedly told the human trafficking victims that 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 plot was supposed to be after the State of the Nation Address. Paras has said, "We will answer all of these false and untrue allegations at a proper time." —Joahna Lei Casilao/ VAL, GMA News