Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste has requested the House leadership for authority to travel abroad, claiming the move was prompted by an alleged “request” from “high-level representatives of the administration”. Leviste said it was coursed through his mother, Sen. Loren Legarda, who was allegedly asked to stop him from “releasing evidence linking government officials to anomalous DPWH projects”.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/31/leviste-claims-ombudsman-staff-apologized-for-inaccurate-video-statement-1021">Leviste claims Ombudsman staff apologized for ‘inaccurate’ video statement</a></div>The Batangas lawmaker issued the statement when asked to confirm a report that he sought clearance to travel to several countries in five months beginning February 8, amid issues surrounding a solar firm he founded. The House Committee on Legislative Franchises expects to begin next week its motu proprio inquiry into the said issues.Leviste gave assurances he will be “present at any opportunity” Congress gives him to “speak on any issue”.  He did not mention the travel period and destinations, but confirmed he requested for travel authority.“I asked for the travel authority upon the request of representatives of the administration, who asked that I go abroad and stop releasing evidence linking government officials to anomalous DPWH projects—but this does not mean that I will be abroad for that whole time,” Leviste said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/1/21/industry-group-belies-leviste-claim-doe-not-helping-renewable-energy-players-1808">Industry group belies Leviste claim DOE not helping renewable energy players</a></div>“Several high-level representatives of the administration have requested this—to my mom, so that I do not name them,” he added. “I will be present at any opportunity that Congress gives me to speak on any issue, as long as I am asked or allowed,” Leviste said.Asked whether he plans to visit former President Duterte in the Netherlands, which is among the countries he requested travel clearance for, Leviste gave this response: “I plan to visit the Filipino community in countries with significant Filipino communities, as you can see there’s several listed countries.”

Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste has requested the House leadership for authority to travel abroad, claiming the move was prompted by an alleged “request” from “high-level representatives of the administration”.

Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste has requested the House leadership for authority to travel abroad, claiming the move was prompted by an alleged “request” from “high-level representatives of the administration”.

Leviste seeks authority to travel abroad

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Leviste seeks authority to travel abroad

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 30, 2026 08:42 PM PHT

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Updated January 30, 2026 08:45 PM PHT

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Leandro Leviste

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