Malacañang on Monday accused unnamed political personalities of orchestrating an alleged attempt to implicate Executive Secretary Ralph Recto in a sex scandal, saying the supposed operation reflects efforts to undermine the Marcos administration.
Speaking at a Palace briefing on Aug. 3, Press Officer Claire Castro rejected claims that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was responsible for the political turmoil cited by Vice President Sara Duterte, instead pointing to the President’s opponents.
“Sinabi ng bise presidente na ang bansa natin ay in chaos. Sino ang gumagawa ng gulo sa bansa natin? Definitely hindi ang pangulong Marcos Jr. Sino ang mga kaalyadong tinuturo na gumawa nito?” Castro said.
Without naming specific individuals, Castro described those allegedly behind the supposed scheme as “inhuman, selfish, and power hungry” and claimed they were “used to planting evidence.”
She also drew comparisons with the previous administration, saying, “Ayaw natin ‘yung naranasan natin noong nakaraang administrasyon pero pilit pa rin nilang ginagawa sa ngayon.”
The controversy arose after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) disclosed that it would summon Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste and former presidential adviser for political affairs Jacinto Paras in connection with the case. Both men have denied any involvement.
The probe followed an NBI-National Capital Region operation at a luxury hotel in Manila, where authorities arrested a talent manager and said five women believed to be victims of human trafficking were rescued.
According to NBI Director Melvin Matibag, one of the women told investigators there had been a plan to entice Recto into a sexual encounter before accusing him of drugging the women with cocaine in an effort to damage his reputation.
Matibag said the same witness identified Leviste as the alleged financier of the operation, while Paras was accused of communicating with the arrested talent manager and serving as an intermediary between the suspect and the lawmaker.
The allegations remain unproven in court.
Separately, Matibag said investigators are also looking into whether Recto was the only intended target, adding that authorities are examining if the alleged operation could be connected to a wider destabilization effort.
“Siguro maiuugnay na namin ito sa destabilization eh so we will investigate this,” Matibag said on July 31. He added, however, that the NBI has not reached any conclusion that the alleged plot was part of a destabilization campaign.
