De Lima at Suarez vs Leviste: Vote Buying Issue? | Michael Say, Morgan Say and Solomon Say

MANILA, Philippines — It appears that Batangas Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste met his match, as Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima did not allow a simple deletion of Leviste’s claims that all lawmakers do vote-buying operations during election season. During the House of Representatives’ plenary session on Tuesday, Leviste delivered a privilege speech where he criticized Executive Secretary Ralph Recto and members of his family for allegedly receiving campaign funds from CWS party-list Rep. Edwin Gardiola. While he was being questioned by Deputy Speaker David Suarez as to why he only made mention of these issues now, Leviste said his focus is on transparency, and he wants candidates doing vote-buying to be penalized. According to Leviste, everyone in the House has a know-how regarding vote-buying. “I am not a liar, I do not want to play coy with the people, all of us here in the plenary have knowledge that vote-buying is rampant and it reaches millions of pesos on average — and sometimes billions — for the campaign of candidates in the Philippines,” Leviste said. “That’s why anyone who would stand here and say that I am telling lies, that candidates here in the plenary of Congress now are spending hundreds of millions, I would not be ashamed to say that they are the ones lying,” he added. After Suarez and other lawmakers’ exchanges with Leviste, several motions were raised seeking to strike off the record portions of his speech — particularly allegations that did not have basis. Andrea del Rosario sa mga Pilipino: Ninanakawan na, sinasamba pa MAKAHULUGAN ang mga binitiwan ni Andrea del Rosario hinggil sa mga Pilipino at ang pagtrato ng mga ito sa mga politiko sa Pilipinas. Inquirer.net During the break in the session, de Lima said she approached Leviste and confronted him about his statements that everyone in the plenary knows something about vote-buying as it was merely “speculative, offensive, and unfair” to everyone who did not engage in such activities. “Yes, we heard the motion of Rep. (Janette) Garin on the deletion or striking out of those portions or parts of the privilege speech without basis. I am very interested as to what exactly are those, specifically, because during the break, this representation approached Rep. Leviste and I was asking him about his claim, the general claim that everybody in this hall has engaged in vote buying,” she said. “So I was telling him, can you please withdraw that particular motion because we find it offensive. For the record, this representation has not engaged in any vote-buying in any elections […] And I remember Rep. Leviste saying he is willing to withdraw that particular portion, so may we ask Rep. Leviste if in fact that is the case, that he has withdrawn, or withdrawing that,” de Lima said. In response, House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos said that the said portions of Leviste’s speech are already subject of the motion to strike from the record. But de Lima said that she wants to hear it straight from Leviste’s mouth — that he is withdrawing this claim. “Mr. Speaker, while we appreciate the sentiments of the Honorable Leila de Lima, I believe that part of which she was espousing with regards to the contents of the speech was already part of the motion […] in which parts of the speech have been stricken off, in which there was no factor,” Marcos said. “I understand Mr. Speaker, Mr. Majority Leader, but we would want it from the mouth himself of Rep. Leviste, about that withdrawal. It’s not just striking out it’s in fact withdrawal from his part,” de Lima replied. When Leviste was allowed to speak to make the withdrawal, he tried to reason out why he mentioned such a claim. But de Lima cut him off, saying that no explanations are required — that a simple withdrawal would do. “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 all, and I definitely withdraw that there are,” Leviste said. “Mr. Speaker the request of this representation is with respect to the withdrawal, no need for any explanation, is he withdrawing?” de Lima asked.“Yes, but I think also for the benefit of the people who are listening—” Leviste said. “It doesn’t need explanation,” de Lima fired back. Leviste’s gripe with Recto was based on reports given to him by his team leaders, that Recto had Gardiola funnel funds to his family — wife Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto and her son, vice gubernatorial candidate Luis Manzano — for their 2025 candidacy. Leviste was confronted by Recto’s son, fellow Batangas Rep. Ryan Recto, saying that discussions within the House must not be based on baseless accusations. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2223967...