Paras claims Recto indeed ordered girls from ‘pimp’ talent manager

Former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto “Jing” Paras —File photo MANILA, Philippines — Former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto “Jing” Paras said on Friday that there was no “honey trap” plot against Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, claiming that the government official really ordered girls from the “pimp” talent manager to offer sexual services. Paras said this on Friday, shortly after National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag announced the filing of qualified human trafficking complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against him, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, the talent manager, and four lawyers. Meanwhile, Recto pointed out that he had never met the talent manager—identified only as alias “Ken”—and his four female artists supposedly involved in the plan to “assassinate” his image. Article continues after this advertisement READ: NBI files ‘qualified human trafficking’ raps vs Leviste, 6 others Paras’ statement In a phone interview with the INQUIRER, Paras said Ken—whom he said he has known for a long time—went to his house in 2024 to entice him to invest in a movie production involving female artists. He said Ken told him that these female artists were being ordered to provide services to Recto. “In the process para ma-convince niya ako mag-invest… Sinabi niya, ‘Cong, itong mga babaeng ito, magaganda. Ito yung kinukuha ng top official [Recto]. Ito ’yung binibigay niya at dinadala niya doon sa isang condominium sa Makati.’ So that’s what he told me,” Paras said. (In the process of convincing me to invest, he said, ‘Cong, these women are beautiful. These are the women that the top official [Recto] takes. These are the ones he orders and takes to a condominium in Makati.’ So that’s what he told me.) Article continues after this advertisement The former congressman said he did not mind the talent manager’s remarks at the time since he did not also invest in the project either. Paras added that the topic was reopened only in May this year because Recto has become one of the country’s top officials while he was on the side of the administration’s opposition. Article continues after this advertisement “Naisip ko dahil controversial itong top official, marami siyang ano at saka nasa opposition kami, alam mo naman kailangan nating i-expose ang mga officials sa corruption, sa kanilang perversion, sa kanilang pinaggagawa outside of their function,” he said. (I thought because this top official is controversial, he has a lot of things to do, and we are in the opposition, you know, we need to expose the officials to corruption, to their perversion, to what they are doing outside of their function.) “If you are a top opposition leader, don’t you think you want to expose also other things that are happening to the government officials, to a top official?” he also said. (If you are a top opposition leader, don’t you think you want to expose also other things that are happening to the government officials, to a top official?) Paras said he renewed his contact with the talent manager for a plan of exposing the alleged conduct of Recto involving the female artists. The former congressman narrated that he contacted lawyers from the Rondain and Mendiola Law Firm—including Atty. Ruy Rondain, Atty. Orlando Mendiola—to seek help in “interviewing” the female artists regarding their supposed experiences with the executive secretary and helping them file a “legitimate” complaint. “If they were brave enough, at papanindigan nila ang istorya nila, tutulungan namin silang magsampa ng kaso,” Paras said. (If they were brave enough, and they stood by their story, we will help them file a case.) But the former congressman refused to provide the details regarding the supposed statements of the four female artists during their meeting and interview in July. He said they will divulge all the information when they file counter-affidavits at the DOJ should the case proceed. Meanwhile, Paras clarified that Leviste had nothing to do with their plan to supposedly expose Recto, noting that he is not even in contact with the congressman. He pointed out that it was actually the talent manager who brought up Leviste’s name after he began to demand P5 million—P1 million for himself and for each of the four girls—which they would supposedly use for their own hiding and protection after filing the case against Recto. “Marunong din siya sa politics. Sinabi niya sa akin, ‘Cong., bakit hindi mo kontakin si Cong. Leviste? Magkalaban naman sila ni Recto. Ang daming pera ’yang si Leviste. Sabi niya bakit hindi yan ang magpondo nito?” he also said. (He is also knowledgeable in politics. He told me, ‘Cong., why don’t you contact Cong. Leviste? He and Recto are rivals. Leviste has so much money. He said, ‘Why isn’t he the one to fund this?’) Meanwhile, Paras said he was shocked when Ken suddenly reversed his statements after he was arrested in an NBI’s entrapment operation on the evening of July 28. READ: Talent manager details alleged ‘honey trap’ plot vs Recto The former congressman pointed out that he is ready to face the qualified human trafficking complaints, saying that these were all “fabricated.” ‘Just explain in court’ Sought for comment, Recto said in a Viber message to the INQUIRER that he has “never met the talent manager or any of the female victims.” “Clearly they seem to know Hustler Jing Paras et al. I leave it to the NBI, DOJ and courts,” Recto told the INQUIRER. “Magpaliwanag na lang sila sa korte,” he emphasized. (They should just explain themselves in court.) After his arrest on July 28, the talent manager claimed he met with Paras and the four lawyers, including Rondain and Mendiola, to plan the “character assassination” plot against Recto. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. He also said Leviste was allegedly the “financier” of the supposed scheme, which the congressman denied. /cb