Paras, Leviste skip NBI summons anew

MANILA, Philippines — Former lawmaker Jacinto Paras and Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste did not appear again yesterday at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

They instead sent their lawyers to respond to subpoenas issued in connection with an alleged plot to discredit Executive Secretary Ralph Recto through a supposed honey trap.

Paras’ lawyers, Mark Tolentino and Ferdinand Topacio, appeared at the NBI-National Capital Region office in Pasay and submitted a notarized affidavit refuting allegations linking the former congressman to the alleged plot.

Tolentino also denied that Paras hired women to hurl false accusations against Recto.

Asked to respond to NBI Director Melvin Matibag’s remark that the evidence against Paras was as strong as “Superman,” Tolentino said: “For me, it is even stronger than Batman.”

Paras remains in the Philippines, Tolentino said.

Gabrielle Rondain-Kapunan, lawyer for Leviste, submitted an affidavit on behalf of the lawmaker.

She denied Leviste’s involvement in the alleged plot against Recto.

Leviste and his mother, Sen. Loren Legarda, are reportedly in France.