Palace on Leviste vs. Recto: Their issue stays between them

Malacañang does not want to engage on the exchange of tirades between Executive Secretary Ralph Recto and Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste.

According to Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro, President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. had a meeting with Recto but the issue concerning Leviste was not tackled.

''Ang Pangulo po ay nagkaroon po ng pagpupulong kasama si Executive Secretary Ralph Recto kahapon at hindi po ito napag-usapan,'' Castro said at a briefing when asked about the matter.

(The President had a meeting with Executive Secretary Ralph Recto yesterday and this was not discussed.)

''So, kung mayroon man silang personal na alitan, sa kanilang dalawa na lamang po iyon. At sa ating pagkakaalam ay sumagot na po si Executive Secretary Ralph Recto at basahin na lamang po ninyo kung ano ang mensahe ni ES Ralph Recto,'' she added.

(So, if they have personal conflict, that matter stays between them. From what I know, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto already responded to these accusations so let's just read his message.)

To recall, Leviste accused Recto of allegedly accepting at least P1 billion in contractor money, wherein he tagged CWS party-list Rep. Edwin Gardiola as the contractor who supposedly financed the 2025 election campaign of Recto, then Batangas 6th District Representative, and his wife and actress Vilma Santos.

The neophyte lawmaker also claimed that his colleagues were engaged in vote buying and that election spending in areas outside of Batangas were way higher.

But in a strong-worded statement, Recto slammed Leviste, noting that he actually turned down the latter's supposed offer of P400 million, which Recto was supposed to give to Leviste’s political opponents for them to back out of the 2025 elections.

Recto also said Gardiola is only a colleague and used to be his political opponent, and that he has no ghost or anomalous projects to his name. — RSJ, GMA News