Marilyn Cahatol

1st District of Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste speaks to the members of the press after the ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed 2026 national budget during a plenary session on Monday, December 29, 2025.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

REP. LEANDRO LEVISTE

Zyann Ambrosio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178642642825620251229-20th-congress-leviste-MT16.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="1st District of Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste speaks to the members of the press after the ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed 2026 national budget during a plenary session on Monday, December 29, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste speaks to the members of the press after the ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed 2026 national budget during a plenary session on Monday, December 29, 2025. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste’s legal counsel, Atty. Gabrielle Rondain Kapunan, appeared at the National Bureau of Investigation–National Capital Region on Tuesday over a subpoena issued to the Batangas congressman related to the investigation into an <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/31/nbi-subpoenas-leviste-paras-over-alleged-plot-linked-to-human-trafficking-probe-1910">alleged “honey trap” operation</a> targeting at least one administration official.</p><p>Kapunan said they just invoked Rep. Leviste&#x27;s right to remain silent.</p><p>“We were allowed to produce some affidavits. That’s it,” she said, declining to comment further.</p><p>She said Leviste denies any involvement in the supposed plan to recruit women to target Executive Secretary Ralph Recto. </p><p>&quot;Again, no comment. And, yes, we deny,” she said.</p><p>Leviste was initially subpoenaed to appear before the NBI last Thursday but<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/6/levite-no-show-at-nbi-bureau-resets-appearance-1549"> failed to attend</a>, with the bureau saying inclement weather may have prevented him from coming.</p><p>The congressman reportedly left the country on August 2.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/7/sen-legarda-son-rep-leviste-left-ph-early-august-bi-1345">Sen. Legarda, son Rep. Leviste left PH separately on Aug. 2—Immigration bureau</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>PARAS DENIES PLOT </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, former lawmaker Jing Paras, through his lawyer Mark Tolentino, submitted a notarized personal affidavit to the NBI.  </p><p>Tolentino said Paras remains in the Philippines but tasked him to submit the affidavit on his behalf.</p><p>According to Tolentino, Paras categorically denied all allegations against him, including claims that women were allegedly recruited or “set up” as part of a character assassination plot.  </p><p>“Dineny niya lahat yung mga allegations, walang basis po yan,” the lawyer said. </p><p>“There is no such thing as set up, there is no such thing as ‘tanim-pokpok’, mali yan,” he said. </p><p>Tolentino acknowledged that Paras and the talent manager identified as alias “Ken” knew each other and had a business relationship dating back to 2022, when the former lawmaker was involved as a movie producer. </p><p>However, he denied that Paras hired or recruited any women.</p><p>“But yung involvement po dito sa pag-hire ng babae — walang word na hire, walang nangyaring pag-hire, walang nangyaring pag-recruit,” he said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/5/nbi-talent-manager-s-apology-won-t-stop-probe-into-alleged-smear-plot-vs-recto-1548">NBI: Talent manager’s apology won&#x27;t stop probe into alleged smear plot vs Recto</a></div><p>Tolentino said the women allegedly approached Paras voluntarily, claiming they had information about an incident that occurred in 2025. He said Paras merely helped facilitate the preparation of affidavits by seeking lawyers to assist the women. </p><p>“So, nagtawag siya ng mga abogado para magawa lang ng affidavit. Yun lang,” he said. </p><p>Tolentino also confirmed that a meeting involving Paras, the talent manager and several women did take place and said there was CCTV footage of the meeting. He maintained, however, that there was no recruitment or discussion of any supposed “script.”</p><p>“Totoo na yung meeting. In fact, may CCTV,” he said. </p><p>Tolentino said the purpose of the meeting was for the women to offer statements regarding an incident in 2025, prompting Paras to seek legal assistance in preparing their affidavits.</p><p>Asked to respond to NBI Director Melvin Matibag’s earlier characterization of the evidence as being as strong as “Superman,” Tolentino offered his own comparison: “Sa akin din, mas malakas pake Batman.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/7/nbi-to-subpoena-four-lawyers-for-probe-on-alleged-plot-vs-recto-1630">NBI to subpoena four lawyers for probe on alleged plot vs Recto</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WOuKkaa37SE?si=dEtB-2zTekr6_uel" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> agaibns</div>

<p>Leviste was initially subpoenaed to appear before the NBI last Thursday but<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/6/levite-no-show-at-nbi-bureau-resets-appearance-1549"> failed to attend</a>, with the bureau saying inclement weather may have prevented him from coming.</p>

Leviste was initially subpoenaed to appear before the NBI last Thursday but failed to attend , with the bureau saying inclement weather may have prevented him from coming.

Leviste, through lawyer, denies 'honey trap' link

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Leviste, through lawyer, denies 'honey trap' link

Zyann Ambrosio,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 11, 2026 02:25 PM PHT

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Updated August 11, 2026 03:19 PM PHT

Read More:

Leandro Leviste

National Bureau of Investigation

honey trap operation

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