Leandro Leviste dares Ralph Recto to face Congress amid allegations

Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste has denied Executive Secretary Ralph Recto’s allegation that he offered P1 billion for Recto’s wife not to run in the 2025 elections.

According to a “24 Oras” report, Leviste said Recto’s claim that he offered P1 billion for Vilma Santos-Recto not to run as Batangas governor last year is without basis and untrue.

The neophyte lawmaker also denied that he prepared P400 million and asked Recto to pay off Leviste’s political rivals for them to back out of the polls.

In a social media post, Leviste dared Recto to face Congress so that they may find out who is telling the truth.

Recto has yet to respond to Leviste’s latest statement.

Earlier, Recto said he turned down Leviste’s offer of P400 million which Recto was supposed to give to Leviste’s political opponents for them to back out of the 2025 elections.

This was after the neophyte lawmaker, in a privilege speech, alleged that Recto accepted at least P1 billion in contractor money.

Leviste tagged CWS party-list Rep. Edwin Gardiola as the contractor who allegedly financed the 2025 election campaign of Recto, then Batangas 6th District Representative, and his wife and actress Vilma Santos.

The lawmaker also linked his colleagues to vote-buying.

This prompted other House members to strike Leviste’s remarks off the record due to lack of evidence. — JMA, GMA News