Romer Butuyan 
HINDI pinalampas ng mga kapwa niya kongresista ang banat ni Batangas Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste sa mga kabarong mambabatas na sangkot sa vote-buying noong nakaraang halalan.
Sa isang “personal” privilege speech sa Kamara, partikular na kinastigo ni Leviste si CWS party-list Rep. Edwin Gardiola, na kapwa niya Batangueno.
Inakusahan ng neophyte lawmaker ang partylist solon na sangkot sa katiwalian partikular sa implementasyon ng infra projects, gayundin ang “pamumuhunan” sa kampanya ng mga kandidato sa kanilang lalawigan.
Sa isang bahagi ng talumpati, tahasang sinabi ng Batangas congressman na maraming kongresista ang namili ng boto sa nakaraang national elections.
Dito na umalma si House Senior Deputy Minority Leader at Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima kung saan nilapitan pa niya si Leviste nang mag-break ang kanilang sesyon.
“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,” kwento ni De Lima sa pakikipag-usap sa bagitong kongresista.
Sumang-ayon naman umano si Leviste sa hiling na bawiin ang banat na vote-buying ng mga kapwa kongresista.
“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 Leviste that in fact, that is the case, that he has withdrawn, that he is withdrawing that portion, because it has no basis, it has no evidence, it’s purely speculative, it’s offensive, it’s unfair to everybody here in this hall. Can we have the answer please,” ani De Lima.
Agad namang namagitan si House Majority Leader at Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos at nilinaw na mayroon na rin bahagi ng mga binitiwang pahayag ni Leviste ang tinanggal na sa rekord ng kanilang plenary proceedings.
Maging ang presiding officer na Senior Deputy Speaker at La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega ay nagdeklara ng kaayusan sa kanilang sesyon dahil sa uminit na ang talakayan sa pagitan nina De Lima at Leviste.
Matapos nito ay sumama na rin sa diskusyon si Deputy Speaker Jay-Jay Suarez — “I 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 ebidensya, dokumento, sinumpaang salaysay? O base lamang sa haka-haka o kwento?” tanong ng Quezon solon kay Leviste.
Sagot ng Batangas solon, mayroon siyang mga district leaders na nakatanggap umano ng pera mula kay Gardiola.
Bwelta naman ni Suarez, dapat ay nagsampa ng kaukulang kaso si Leviste sa Commission on Elections (Comelec) at ethics complaint laban sa CWS partylist congressman.
“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 a little bit offensive pati ako babanggitin, but I tell you one thing, maayos kami sa Quezon. The statements of (Congressman) Leviste statements were totally uncalled for and baseless and downright hearsay,” mariing sabi ni Suarez.
“And if indeed, he has factual basis for everything and anything he is saying, he has the proper forums to make the necessary complaints. Why now, why here?” aniya.
“Medyo nalito lang ako, parang ang dami na nating pinuntahan na mga topic, pati vote buying, business association, others,” saad din niya.
Hindi rin naitago ni Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon ang yamot na nagtulak sa kanya para maglatag ng dalawang mosyon na agad din inaprubahan ng plenaryo.
“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,” punto ni Ridon.
“The speech has branched out to other matters…This speech in its entirety should be stricken off the record.”
