Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste invoked his right to remain silent in connection with the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) probe into an alleged sex scandal plot targeting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, his lawyer said Tuesday.

According to a report by RH Jecelle Ricafort, Leviste’s lawyer, Atty. Gabrielle Rondain-Kapunan, appeared before the NBI-National Capital Region on Tuesday morning and submitted an affidavit to the bureau on behalf of the lawmaker.

“We just invoked Rep. Leviste’s right to remain silent,” Kapunan told reporters in an ambush interview.

Kapunan also strongly denied any involvement by Leviste in an alleged attempt to set up Recto, who is often referred to as the “little president” because of his position as executive secretary.

The lawyer said she did not know whether Leviste had already returned to the Philippines when asked about the lawmaker’s whereabouts.

Leviste was previously named by an arrested talent manager as the alleged financier of a planned “honeytrap” operation against Recto. The allegation has not been independently established.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirmed Friday that Leviste and his mother, Sen. Loren Legarda, had left the country. Matibag said the two traveled on separate flights to Hong Kong, with France as their final destination.

The NBI has been investigating the alleged plot, including claims that an individual would be lured into a compromising situation as part of an attempt to create a sex scandal.

Leviste has denied involvement in the alleged operation through his legal counsel.