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Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste speaks to reporters, December 29, 2025.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

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REP. LEANDRO LEVISTE

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/178849652605920251229-20th-congress-leviste-MT16.jpg" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align: left;">Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste speaks to reporters, December 29, 2025. &nbsp;Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA &mdash; The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Friday it would file qualified human trafficking complaints against Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste, former lawmaker Jacinto &ldquo;Jing&rdquo; Paras, and five others allegedly involved in a &ldquo;honey trap&rdquo; scheme against some government officials.&nbsp;</p><p>The complaint stemmed from allegations that women were recruited to fabricate accusations against Executive Secretary Ralph Recto as part of a supposed &ldquo;honey trap&rdquo; or character assassination scheme.</p><div><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">NBI subpoenas Leviste, Paras over alleged plot linked to human trafficking probe</a></div><p>Leviste previously denied involvement in the supposed plot.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;Sasabihin ko na lang na, dahil kilala mo ako, alam mong hindi ako sinungaling, at totoo ang sinasabi kong &#39;Gawang Recto&#39; lang ang kwentong ito,&rdquo; he earlier said in a post addressed to NBI Director Melvin Matibag.</p><p>&ldquo;Alam kong inutusan ka lang, kaya pinapatawad kita. At kahit mawala na ang mga taong nasa paligid mo ngayon, pagdating ng 2028, pwede pa rin tayong magkwentuhan tulad ng dati,&rdquo; the lawmaker added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/11/leviste-through-lawyer-denies-honey-trap-link-1425">Leviste, through lawyer, denies &#39;honey trap&#39; link&nbsp;</a></div><p>Remulla says he and other execs were also targets of &#39;character assassination&#39; plan</p><p>Paras&#39; camp has also rejected the accusation. His lawyer Tolentino said that if the government had proof against his client, it should &ldquo;present such evidence before the appropriate prosecutorial and judicial forums.&rdquo;</p><div><em>More details to follow.</em></div><div><em><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/1GburxD3-ng?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>&nbsp;</em></div><div><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/eTAJUomr5K4?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div>

<p>The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Friday it would file qualified human trafficking complaints against Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste, former lawmaker Jacinto “Jing” Paras, and five others allegedly involved in a “honey trap” scheme against some government officials. </p>

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Friday it would file qualified human trafficking complaints against Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste, former lawmaker Jacinto “Jing” Paras, and five others allegedly involved in a “honey trap” scheme against some government officials.

NBI to file qualified trafficking complaint vs Leandro Leviste, Jing Paras over alleged ‘honey trap’

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NBI to file qualified trafficking complaint vs Leandro Leviste, Jing Paras over alleged ‘honey trap’

ABS-CBN News

Published September 04, 2026 12:38 PM PHT

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Leandro Leviste

Jing Paras

Recto

honey trap

NBI

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