Jing Paras camp says ₱5.5M was aid, not bribe

The camp of former congressman Jing Paras on Tuesday denied claims that the ₱5.5M handed to an alleged talent manager was help, not a bribe, insisting it was financial assistance for expenses after testifying about an alleged plot against Executive Secretary Ralph Recto.

In a “24 Oras” report by Oscar Oida, Paras’ camp claimed that an individual, alias ”Ken," approached them voluntarily to testify and only asked for help in drafting the affidavit.

“Si Mr. Ken, sila ang nag-offer, nag-volunteer sila na may sasabihin na nangyari noong 2025,” said Mark Tolentino, Paras’ lawyer.

“So ang trabaho naman sa aking kliyente ay tumulong lang sa paggawa ng affidavit sa mga babae. So nagtawag siya ng mga abogado para gumawa lang ng affidavit,” Tolentino added.

(Mr. Ken was the one who offered to speak out about something that happened in 2025. So my client’s job was simply to assist the women in preparing their affidavits. He brought in lawyers specifically to help draft them.)

Fearing for their safety after agreeing to testify against a high-ranking official, Paras’ lawyer said he provided funds strictly to help protect the witnesses, maintaining that it was not a bribe.

“Natatakot kasi itong si alias Ken na magsasabi… kasi ang kalaban nila mataas na opisyal. So, saan sila magtago, anong gastusin nila pag nagtago sila, baka harrasin sila nitong mataas na opisyal. So humingi sila ng funds that’s why umabot ng 6 million hanggang 5.5 [million],” Tolentino said.

(Alias Ken was afraid to speak out against a high-ranking official. Where would they hide? What would their expenses be while in hiding? They were worried this official might harass them. So they requested funds, which is why the amount reached from P6 million to P5.5.)

Tolentino stated that the former congressman plans to file perjury complaints against the individuals making the accusations.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag previously disclosed that Paras allegedly told some human trafficking victims they would be paid to fabricate a story and sign an affidavit implicating Recto.

According to Matibag, the plot was scheduled to unfold after the State of the Nation Address.

Last week, the NBI issued subpoenas to Paras and Representative Leandro Leviste, who was also linked to the plot. Both have denied the allegations.

In the same report, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, who also represents Paras, claimed that the investigation is part of a scheme to decimate "legitimate opposition.”

“This is part of a bigger and grander plan to decimate the legitimate opposition. Alam naman natin si Congressman Jing Paras ay isa sa mga foremost critics ng Marcos administration at founder nung kampilan,” Topacio said.

(This is part of a bigger, grander plan to decimate the legitimate opposition. We all know Congressman Jing Paras is one of the foremost critics of the Marcos administration and the founder of Kampilan.)

“Siyempre, bend the law na naman tayo. Ganyan naman lagi, hindi naman ito ang first time—kay Mike Defensor, doon sa 18 Marines—so, ‘di na tayo nagtataka kay Director Matibag,” he added.

(Of course, they are bending the law again. It is always like this—this isn't the first time, as seen with Mike Defensor and the 18 Marines. So Director Matibag's actions no longer surprise us.)

Paras’ lawyers submitted his affidavit before the NBI on Tuesday for the agency’s investigation into the issue.

Leviste’s lawyer also went to the agency’s office and told reporters that they deny any involvement of the lawmaker.

“We just invoked Congressman Leviste’s right to remain silent; that's it. We deny any involvement again, no comment,” said Gabrielle Rondain-Kapunan, Leviste’s lawyer.

She added that she had no information on Leviste’s current location following reports from Matibag that the lawmaker had left for Hong Kong on August 2.

GMA News reached out to Matibag for a statement regarding the claims made by the defense lawyers, but he declined to comment.—Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/LDF, GMA News