Atty. Orlando Mendiola of the Rondain & Mendiola Law Firm on Monday refuted claims of his firm’s involvement in a “character assassination” scheme against Executive Secretary Ralph Recto.
In an interview at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) office, Mendiola said that while he and other lawyers under the firm had met with the arrested talent manager, identified only as “Ken,” and his four female talents, the meeting was for an interview requested by former lawmaker Jacinto “Jing” Paras.
The interview was left unfinished, Mendiola added, and he and the other lawyers were allegedly clueless as to what it had been for.
Mendiola rejected alias “Ken’s” claim that he had introduced himself, along with three more lawyers, as representatives of Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste.
He also repudiated the allegation that they were behind the supposed script and affidavit implicating Recto in a sex scandal; he and the lawyers did not even know the names of the talents involved in the alleged plot.
Mendiola stressed that his firm was not involved in any illicit activity aimed at harming any individual’s reputation.
“We have no participation in any illegal activity, any attempt to disgrace any reputation. That’s basically it. We have nothing to do with any alleged wrongdoing,” he told reporters.
The lawyer challenged Ken and the female stars to release the supposed script supporting the sex scandal plot.
“Walang katotohanan iyan. Kasi kung may statement na gano’n, nasaan ‘yun? … Planong gawin ‘yun, dapat nilabas na ‘yun… Walang statement na gano’n, ‘di nga natapos e diba, that’s why there was a second meeting,” Mendiola said.
“‘Di totoo na kami nag-brief. Kami ang nakinig, kung ano ‘yung sinasabi… Wala kaming ginawa na kuwento. Kung may kuwento man na sinasabi niya, ilabas niyo,” he emphasized.
“I’m not denying, I’m telling the truth,” he added.
Previously, both Leviste and Paras have denied the allegations.
Accompanied by two junior associates, Mendiola faced the NBI - National Capital Region (NCR) Monday 2:00 p.m.
