COLLEAGUES of Batangas Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste collectively rebuked him last night for making a shotgun accusation that members of the House of Representatives engaged in vote-buying in the 2025 elections.
They made the censure after the young lawmaker delivered a privilege speech on Batangas politics in which he accused his House colleague and fellow Batangueño, Rep. Edwin Gardiola of the Construction Workers Solidarity Party-list of allegedly funding the election campaign of local politicians.
But in the course of his speech, he claimed members of the House allegedly engaged in vote buying and that election expenses in other regions were lower than in Batangas, Quezon, and other areas in Calabarzon. He even asked Deputy Speaker David “Jay-Jay” Suarez of Quezon to support his allegation.
One of those who denounced him for his general accusation was former justice secretary-turned Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima.
De Lima said she approached Leviste during a break in the session “and I was asking him about his claim, his general claim that everybody in this hall has engaged in vote-buying.”
“So I was telling him can you please withdraw that particular portion because I find it offensive? For the record, this representation has not engaged in any vote-buying in any election, including the last elections of 2025,” de Lima said.
She said Leviste promised her that he would take back his allegations.
“So may we ask Rep. Leviste that in fact, that is the case, that he has withdrawn, that he is withdrawing that portion, because it has no basis, it has evidence, it’s purely speculative, it’s offensive, it’s unfair to everybody here in this hall. Can we have the answer please,” De Lima asked in a raised voice.
At this point, House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos of Ilocos Norte intervened.
“Mr. Speaker, while we appreciate the sentiments of the Honorable Leila de Lima, I believe part of what she is espousing with regard to the contents of the speech was already covered by the motion in which parts of the speech be stricken off in which there was no basis in fact or evidence,” Marcos said.
“I understand Mr. Speaker, Mr. Majority Leader, but we want it from the mouth of Rep. Leviste himself,” De Lima insisted.
Upon motion of Majority Leader Marcos, Senior Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega of La Union, the presiding officer, recognized Leviste again.
“First I would like to clarify that I meant that there are some, but not all, and there are many members of Congress who do not violate election laws, so please do not consider that I said that to all, and I definitely withdraw that there are…” Leviste said.
A visibly angry De Lima cut him short.
“Mr. Speaker, the request of this representation is that it is with respect to the withdrawal, is he withdrawing? No need for an explanation.,” she said.
“Yes, but I think…” Leviste said and continued to speak despite an appeal from Ortega for order.
“Let’s put a little order. I am addressing the floor, let’s put a little respect to our colleagues,” Ortega appealed to Leviste.
Suarez, whose name was mentioned by the Batangas lawmaker, said he “found it a little offensive that all of a sudden that a colleague of mine would call out my name.”
“I was listening, binanggit niya na may mga halagang ginamit sa kampanya. Totoo po ba ito, meron po ba tayong ebidensiya, dokumento, sinumpaang salaysay? O base lamang sa haka-haka o kuwento?” Suarez asked Leviste.
The Batangas solon responded that his district leaders had allegedly received money from Gardiola.
Suarez said Leviste should have filed the necessary complaints with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and an ethics case with the House of Representatives.
“Why are we now standing here insinuating all sorts of illegal acts that happened in 2025, when so much time has passed. Now I am questioning the timing of all of these. Now I even find it a little bit offensive pati ako babanggitin, but I tell you one thing, maayos kami sa Quezon,” he said.
He said Leviste’s statements were “totally uncalled for and baseless and downright hearsay.”
“And if indeed, he has a factual basis for everything and anything he is saying, he has the proper forums to make the necessary complaints. Why now, why here? ” Suarez added.
He also said he was confused by Leviste’s speech as it ventured into other areas.
“Medyo nalito lang ako, parang ang dami na nating pinuntahan na mga topic, pati vote buying, business association, others,” he said.
Angered by what he heard from the Batangas lawmaker, Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon presented two motions which the plenary approved.
“There were specific allegations relating to other regions outside of Calabarzon that are spending so much more during the elections. This is not based on truth, not based on facts. I move to strike these down from the record,” he said.
“The speech has branched out to other matters…This speech in its entirely should be stricken off the record,” Ridon said.
Ridon’s motions were later amended by Deputy Speaker Janette Garin of Iloilo, who promised that the deletion be limited to Leviste’s remarks “that cannot be supported by evidence, by documents.”
