‘I’ in NBI stands for invented stories, says Leviste

NBI Director Melvin Matibag (left) and Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste (INQUIRER file photos) MANILA, Philippines — The letter ‘I’ in the NBI stands for invented stories, Batangas Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste said on Friday. He made the remark after qualified human trafficking raps were filed against him and six others over their alleged involvement in a “honeytrap” plot targeting a ranking government official. In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Leviste said NBI stands for National Bureau of ‘Imbento’ (invention) — a shot at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that filed the complaints against him. Article continues after this advertisement “NBI: National Bureau of IMBENTO, nag-iimbento ng kalokohan gamit ang buwis habang lubog ang bayan,” he said. (NBI: National Bureau of INVENTED stories, they invent nonsense using public funds while the country is submerged in floods.) “The state of our country is pitiful,” he added. Earlier, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said in an ambush interview that they have filed the qualified human trafficking complaints against Leviste, former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto “Jing” Paras, and five others. The cases are in connection with the alleged plan to trap Executive Secretary Ralph Recto using female talents. Article continues after this advertisement Qualified human trafficking is a non-bailable case. Previous reports show that the NBI was able to uncover the alleged honeytrap plot against Recto after an entrapment operation at a five-star hotel in Malate, Manila last July 28. Article continues after this advertisement This incident led to the arrest of talent manager Lito de Guzman, and authorities taking into protective custody five female talents. Thereafter, De Guzman told the NBI that Paras had contacted him to recruit four women and have them fabricate statements accusing Recto of forcing them to engage in sex and use illegal drugs. They were reportedly to be paid P5 million in total for the scheme. Matibag also said that De Guzman relayed to them that Leviste was the financier of the plot. READ: Palace condemns alleged plot to frame Executive Sec. Recto Both Leviste and Paras have denied involvement in the matter. Last July 31, Leviste also posted on his Facebook page, saying that he is not involved in Recto’s alleged affairs. It is unclear where Leviste, a staunch critic of Recto, is currently staying as the NBI said last August 8 he and her mother, Senator Loren Legarda, have left the country. Leviste and Recto both hail from Batangas. Last May 7, lawmakers from the five other districts of Batangas condemned Leviste for his “baseless, malicious and irresponsible” allegations made against Recto and his wife, Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto. The criticism of Leviste came after he accused the executive secretary of working with other lawmakers to gather campaign funds for his family— Santos-Recto and her son Luis Manzano, who ran for governor and vice governor in 2025. According to Leviste, based on his estimates and own research, CWS party-list Rep. Edwin Gardiola supposedly spent P1 billion over the entire Batangas to support Recto and Manzano’s candidacy. This was denied by Recto and his relatives, but Leviste posted on his Facebook page several photos of Recto and Gardiola. The first picture was in an alleged dinner where Leviste was also present, and later on, photos featuring Gardiola and Recto, along with other individuals like Santos-Recto. However, there were questions whether the photos were authentic, and whether it indicated any wrongdoing. Recto said in response that Leviste is “crazy and a liar.” READ: Batangas pols Leviste, Recto trade barbs on, off social media Recto also said that it was Leviste who reportedly attempted to bribe him at least twice to influence elections and to grab hectares of sugar plantation lands in Batangas. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. He cited how Leviste allegedly offered P1 billion to him to urge Santos-Recto to withdraw from the gubernatorial race in the 2025 elections so Leviste could take her place. /apl