Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Jervis Manahan

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/178574382446512 (14).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on June 24, 2026. <em>Office of the Executive Secretary/Facebook</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA— The alleged character assassination attempts against Executive Secretary Ralph Recto are abominable and unacceptable, the Palace said on Monday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/3/nbi-subpoenas-leviste-ex-solon-over-alleged-character-assassination-plot-1315">NBI subpoenas Leviste, ex-solon over alleged character assassination plot</a></div><p>The National Bureau of Investigation is investigating a P5-million scheme that would falsely accuse Recto of drug and sexual abuse. This stems from an entrapment operation in Malate where an arrested talent manager said he had been hired to recruit women who will accuse the Executive Secretary of such acts.</p><p>NBI has already subpoenaed Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste and former congressman Jacinto Paras as part of their investigation</p><p>&quot;Kung ito ay mapapatunayan na totoo, dahil may mga witnesses, may mga taong involved na pinangalanan ang taong nag-utos sa kanila na sirain ang pagkatao ni Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, ito ay isang karimarimarim, hindi katanggap-tanggap, hindi makatao, makasarili, power hungry, gawaing paggawa ng intriga, pagplanta ng ebidensiya,&quot; Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.</p><p>&quot;Diyan ba sila sanay, diyan ba sila eksperto? Ito iyong  iniiwasan ng pamahalaan, kaya nga mayroon tayong tinatawag na due process, proseso ang ipinapatupad ng pamahalaan, ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Marcos Jr,&quot; she added.</p><p>NBI Director Melvin Matibag earlier said they believe Recto was a target of a character assassination campaign.</p><p>Castro said such attempts to discredit Recto were detestable.</p><p>&quot;Hindi dapat ganito, nakikita ang karahasan, paggawa ng kuwento, paninira, napaka-rampant na ng ginagawa nila at ito ay nakakasira sa gobyerno, nakakasira sa isipan ng ating mga kabataan,&quot; she added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sn4KrerAgfM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the attempts to discredit Executive Secretary were detestable.</p>

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the attempts to discredit Executive Secretary were detestable.

Alleged character assassination plot vs ES Recto 'abominable'—Palace

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Alleged character assassination plot vs ES Recto 'abominable'—Palace

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 03, 2026 04:02 PM PHT

Read More:

Palace

Briefing

Recto

Executive Secretary

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