The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday asked the Supreme Court to discipline former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto “Jing” Paras and four lawyers accused of helping prepare allegedly fabricated statements against Executive Secretary Ralph Recto.
The administrative complaint named Ruy Rondain, Orlando Mendiola, Patrick Criaga and Josemilio Manuel Apostol, whom investigators linked to an alleged plan involving women who would make false accusations against Recto.
The filing added a separate professional accountability case to the qualified human trafficking complaint that the NBI submitted to the Department of Justice on Sept. 4 against Paras, the four lawyers, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste and a talent manager identified as “Ken.”
Justice Secretary Frederick Vida said Thursday that prosecutors had 10 days to decide whether the trafficking complaint should proceed to preliminary investigation or be returned to the NBI.
The allegations stemmed from accounts that several women were supposedly to be recruited to accuse Recto of drug use and sexual misconduct, with investigators claiming that legal assistance would be used to prepare the statements.
Paras and the other respondents have denied wrongdoing, while Paras has described the cases as harassment by the Marcos administration.
A disbarment complaint is separate from any criminal case and does not itself establish professional misconduct, since disciplinary proceedings require the Supreme Court or the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to evaluate the evidence and determine whether sanctions are warranted.
Under the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability, complaints against lawyers may be filed before the Supreme Court or the IBP, and the high court may refer cases to the IBP for investigation, report and recommendation.
