Jonathan Frederic De Santos

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag holds a press conference at the NBI Headquarters on May 22, 2026. Maria Tan,  ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

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/17859158723161785915870428.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag holds a press conference at the NBI Headquarters on May 22, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation said an apology that a talent manager issued to Executive Secretary Ralph Recto will not affect its investigation into planned character assassination against the Cabinet official.</p><p>NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the apology is the suspect&#x27;s personal decision that he also said reinforced the bureau&#x27;s initial findings of a plan to recruit women to  make false sex and drug use accusations against Recto.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/3/alleged-character-assassination-plot-vs-es-recto-abominable-palace-1602"><strong>Alleged character assassination plot vs ES Recto &#x27;abominable&#x27;—Palace</strong></a></div><p>“He apologized because he joined in the planning,” Matibag said, adding the statements of two key personalities involved are consistent with each other.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>LEVISTE, PARAS SUMMONED</strong></div><p>Matibag also confirmed that subpoenas had been issued to Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste and former congressman Jacinto “Jing” Paras as part of the investigation.</p><p>He said investigators want the two to explain their alleged communications with “Alias Ken,” who has been linked to the alleged scheme. </p><p>“If they deny that they know him, we are under the burden of evidence that we have proven that they know and have talked to him,” Matibag said.</p><p>He said the NBI has gathered text messages, witness statements, and other evidence on that.</p><p>The NBI chief also dismissed concerns over allegedly deleted Viber messages.</p><p>“We have tools here [and] we can retrieve the text messages,” he said.</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"><strong>NBI subpoenas Leviste, ex-solon over alleged character assassination plot</strong></a></div><p>Matibag urged those implicated to present their explanations before the NBI instead of through social media or media interviews.</p><p>Leviste reiterated on Wednesday that he had no hand in the alleged character assassination plot against, which he called made-up. </p><p>“Wala akong kinalaman sa ‘Gawang Recto’ na kwentong ito, at hindi na dapat patulan itong kalokohan,” he said in a Facebook post. </p><p>The case stems from the NBI’s investigation into an alleged plot involving the recruitment of women as part of a purported character assassination campaign against Recto.</p><p>The bureau is working to identify all who may have participated in or had knowledge of the alleged scheme.</p>

<p>The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said the apology issued by the arrested talent manager to Executive Secretary Ralph Recto will not affect its ongoing investigation into the alleged plot to orchestrate a character assassination against the Cabinet official.</p>

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said the apology issued by the arrested talent manager to Executive Secretary Ralph Recto will not affect its ongoing investigation into the alleged plot to orchestrate a character assassination against the Cabinet official.

NBI: Talent manager’s apology won't stop probe into alleged smear plot vs Recto

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NBI: Talent manager’s apology won't stop probe into alleged smear plot vs Recto

Zyann Ambrosio,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 05, 2026 03:48 PM PHT

|

Updated August 05, 2026 05:01 PM PHT

Read More:

NBI

Talent manager

Leandro leviste

Jing Paras

Melvin matibag

Ralph Recto

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