MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will file a qualified human trafficking complaint against Batangas First District Representative Leandro Leviste, former Negros Oriental congressman Jacinto “Jing” Paras and five others over an alleged scheme to fabricate accusations against Executive Secretary Ralph Recto.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag said Friday that the complaint would be submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ), with the bureau finding that the elements of qualified human trafficking were present in the case.

“We are filing violation of Anti-Human Trafficking Law so qualified human trafficking ‘yung ifa-file natin doon sa seven individuals,” he said in an ambush interview.

“Ang findings natin they… [supposedly] committed qualified human trafficking. Nandoon lahat ng elements,” he later added.

The NBI also plans to recommend a preliminary investigation into the alleged involvement of four lawyers and another individual in the scheme. Matibag said the bureau was also considering filing disbarment complaints against the lawyers and an ethics complaint against Leviste.

The case followed an NBI entrapment operation in which several individuals were rescued. Some of those rescued later alleged that Paras told them they would be paid to create a story and sign an affidavit, with payments to be released in tranches as the case progressed.

Paras’ camp has denied the accusations. His lawyer, Tolentino, said the talent manager had approached them voluntarily to testify and had sought assistance in preparing the affidavit.

Paras’ lawyer also maintained that the PHP5.5 million given to the talent manager was not a bribe but financial assistance intended to cover expenses following testimony concerning the alleged plot against Recto.

Leviste has likewise denied participating in the alleged scheme.

“Sasabihin ko na lang na, dahil kilala mo ako, alam mong hindi ako sinungaling, at totoo ang sinasabi kong ‘Gawang Recto’ lang ang kwentong ito,” he earlier said in a post addressed to NBI Director Melvin Matibag.

“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,” the lawmaker added.

Leviste remains out of country

Matibag said Leviste did not respond to an NBI subpoena because he had already left the country.

He said Leviste traveled to Hong Kong on Aug. 2, while Senator Loren Legarda also departed on the same date on a separate flight, using Hong Kong as a transit point before proceeding to France.

“Hindi po um-appear [sa subpoena] kasi po nag-biyahe eh. Umalis po. Positive po ’yan, parehas po sila ni Senator Legarda na umalis,” Matibag said.

“Si Leandro Leviste po, umalis po noong August 2 papuntang Hong Kong. Si Senator [Legarda] po, umalis noong August 2 rin, magkaiba po na flight via Hong Kong, pero ang final destination is France,” he added.

The Ombudsman said Leviste had secured a two-month travel authority. His lawyer has invoked his right to remain silent while denying his alleged involvement in the controversy.

Matibag said the NBI’s latest monitoring placed Leviste in France.

“Hindi ko lang alam ngayon kung nasaan na siya, but definitely still out of the country,” he said.

Legarda and Leviste had yet to issue statements on the matter as of press time.

Separate probe involving Legarda, Leviste

Aside from the alleged scheme against Recto, Legarda and Leviste are facing a separate preliminary investigation before the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged irregularities involving exclusive solar energy service contracts.

The Ombudsman has initiated plunder and graft complaints against Legarda, Leviste, former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and several other individuals.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said he had signed the charge sheet for the preliminary investigation, which could lead to the filing of criminal cases before the courts.

The Ombudsman alleged that Legarda, Leviste and Cusi conspired to obtain exclusive government rights over solar energy resources through legislative and regulatory actions.

The complaints cite alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and the Plunder Law.

According to the Ombudsman, several exclusive solar energy service contracts were awarded to corporations allegedly linked to Leviste, but many of the projects were not developed as promised.

The agency also alleged that the number of contracts resulted in a “virtual monopoly” over solar energy projects.

Remulla said unpaid financial obligations from terminated contracts were estimated at more than PHP10.44 billion.

“That P10 billion is only the contracts,” Remulla said. “What our fellow Filipinos lost runs into hundreds of billions.”

He further alleged that Leviste’s company obtained exclusive rights to produce and sell solar energy, restricting the participation of other investors.

“It is as if they own the sun, the power of the sun, to the exclusion of other Filipinos and other investors,” Remulla said.

“They promised they would produce electricity. It’s printed in the Philippine Energy Plan,” he added. “They didn’t do it. They just sold, they just made money. If they built anything, it was a pittance.”

Remulla also alleged that Legarda used her position as then chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance to help Leviste secure the franchise.

“He wouldn’t have gotten it if his mother, the chair of the Senate finance committee, hadn’t helped him,” Remulla said. “She used her position so her son could get the franchise.”

The Ombudsman said the alleged failure to develop the projects eventually resulted in the sale of Leviste’s solar business and losses for the government and the public.

Separately, the Department of Energy filed a complaint before the DOJ against Leviste and officials of Solar Para sa Bayan Corporation over alleged violations of the Public Service Act.

The complaint alleged that the company failed to provide electricity to remote, unserved and underserved areas as required under its 2019 congressional franchise.

Legarda and Leviste have denied the allegations.