The arrested talent manager linked to the botched sex scandal plot against Executive Secretary Ralph Recto voluntarily tapped former lawmaker Jacinto “Jing” Paras to devise an “exposé” to purportedly benefit the government, according to a report by RH 15 Jecelle Ricafort on Tuesday.

Paras’ lawyer, Atty. Mark Tolentino, alleged that the talent manager, identified only as “Ken,” requested a statement regarding an unspecified significant incident that supposedly transpired in Makati City in 2025.

Tolentino clarified that Paras had simply assisted Ken in creating an affidavit for the four female stars.

“Sila ang nag-volunteer. So si Mr. Ken, sila ang nag-offer, nag-volunteer sila na may sasabihin na nangyari in 2025. So ang trabaho naman sa aking kliyente is tumulong lang sa paggawa ng affidavit sa mga babae,” the lawyer told reporters. “There is no such thing as ‘set up.’ There is no such thing as ‘tanim-pokpok.’ Mali iyan,”

No recruitment had taken place, and Paras had only met with Ken on July 15 and 26, he further stated.

“Walang word na ‘hire,’ walang nangyaring pag-hire, walang nangyaring pag-recruit, it’s purely sila ang lumalapit sa kliyente ko para mag-offer sila ng statement sa nangyari noong 2025,” he emphasized.

Tolentino rejected the so-called “tanim-pokpok” accusation, or that Paras had concocted evidence to frame Recto in a salacious affair.

“Wala namang pokpok na pinag-usapan, wala ring tinanim. Kung may mga ganoong usapan… Kasi when you say ‘tanim-pokpok,’ future acts. May plano na i-pain ‘yung isang babae sa isang mataas na opisyal. But wala namang ganoon, kasi based on our investigation, nangyari ito noong 2025,” he said.

He did admit, however, that Paras and Ken had business ties from a movie production back in 2022.

“‘Yung business relationship, mayroon sila, in 2022, kasi producer din si Congressman Jing Paras. Then, talent manager naman itong si alyas ‘Ken.’ So nag-usap sila with respect sa isang movie project,” he explained.

Regarding the exchange between Paras and Ken via Viber, Tolentino said the talent manager had expressed fear over clashing with a high-ranking public official.

It was in this conversation that the two agreed to a sum of ₱5.5 million, supposedly as aid should Ken and his talents need to go into hiding.

In response to questions as to why Paras had deleted messages, Tolentino countered that the deletion of messages does not necessarily indicate illicit activity or motive.

On August 5, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said it is eyeing a human trafficking case against Paras in connection with this alleged scheme.