Camille Naredo

1st District of Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste speaks to the members of the press after the ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed 2026 national budget during a plenary session on Monday, December 29, 2025.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

REP. LEANDRO LEVISTE

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176986158020020251229-20th-congress-leviste-MT15.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="1st District of Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste speaks to the members of the press after the ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed 2026 national budget during a plenary session on Monday, December 29, 2025.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">1st District of Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste speaks to the members of the press after the ratification of the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed 2026 national budget during a plenary session on Monday, December 29, 2025.  <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- The Palace made a fiery response as it brushed off Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste’s remark who said he 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”.</p><p>“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,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/30/leviste-seeks-authority-to-travel-abroad-2042"><strong>Leviste seeks authority to travel abroad</strong></a></div><p>“I will be present at any opportunity that Congress gives me to speak on any issue, as long as I am asked or allowed,” he added. </p><p>Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro criticized Leviste, urging him not to resort to drama and insinuations in accusing the administration.</p><p>“Ang mga dapat malaman ng bayan ay dapat nang pinapahayag ng walang takot. Hindi puro pa media lang. Huwag daanin sa drama, insinuations at puro bintang na ‘walang ebidensya’ ang pagbibintang sa administrasyon,” she said in a statement Saturday, January 31.</p><p>The Palace official stressed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is focused on more relevant issues the country is facing such as boosting the economy. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/31/court-orders-issuance-of-summons-in-leviste-s-civil-libel-case-against-palace-s-castro-1627"><strong>Court orders issuance of summons in Leviste&#x27;s civil libel case against Palace&#x27;s Castro</strong></a></div><p>“Hindi namin binibigyang halaga ang mga pahayag na walang kabuluhan... walang kwenta. Nakakatawa. Sayang lang ang oras,” she stated.</p>

<p>The Palace made a fiery response as it brushed off Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste’s remark who said he 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”.</p>

The Palace made a fiery response as it brushed off Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste’s remark who said he 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”.

Palace dismisses Leviste’s claim of ‘admin reps request’ for him to go abroad

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Palace dismisses Leviste’s claim of ‘admin reps request’ for him to go abroad

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 31, 2026 06:45 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 31, 2026 08:13 PM PHT

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Claire Castro

Leandro Leviste

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