NBI: 5 officials targeted in honey trap plot

MANILA, Philippines — Five more government officials are among the intended victims of an alleged plot to fabricate a human trafficking scandal against Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said yesterday. Targets of the alleged honey trap include Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and Information and Communications Secretary Henry Aguda, the NBI said. Following an anti-trafficking operation last week, the suspect and one of the rescued women linked former Cabinet official Jacinto Paras to the scheme, with Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste as the alleged financier. “As of now, these are all speculations because there’s no proof yet,” NBI Director Melvin Matibag said. “What’s clear and with evidence is that based on the statement of the two people, they were talking with (former) congressman Jing Paras and planning what we called character assassination.” Leviste and Paras have been summoned to the NBI today to shed light on the incident. Had the honey trap succeeded, Recto would have been accused of forcing the rescued women to engage in sexual activities with him. Paras’ lawyer Mark Tolentino pushed back against Jonvic Remulla for labeling Paras as the “mastermind.” Remulla has said he is considering filing trafficking charges against Paras.