Comelec opens fact-finding probe on Leviste 'vote buying' viral video

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Saturday it is conducting a fact-finding investigation into the viral video of alleged vote buying activities by Batangas First District Representative Leandro Leviste.

"Fact finding lang po (It is only fact finding)," Garcia told GMA News Online via Viber message.

"Inaalam po namin kung kailan nangyari at kung nangyari. Upang malaman po kung kandidato na ba ng panahon na 'yon," he added.

(We are determining when it happened and if it happened. This is to find out if he was a candidate at that time.)

Viral video ng umano'y pamimili ng boto o vote buying ni Batangas Rep Leandro Leviste noong nagdaang eleksyon sa bansa, sinisiyat na ng COMELEC. | via @mamutuesday pic.twitter.com/IqchqvnZ7J

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) May 8, 2026

A video circulating online allegedly showed Leviste handing out money to people lining up, according to a Super Radyo dzBB report by Tuesday Niu.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, individuals or candidates will face imprisonment and disqualification from running for any government post if they are proven to be involved in vote buying.

In a Facebook post, Leviste said Executive Secretary Ralph Recto was behind the circulation of the video.

Leviste also clarified that the activity happened during Christmas and that the money came from his own pocket.

"Pinapakalat ni Ralph Recto ang video ng pamimigay ko ng pera noong Pasko na galing sa sarili kong bulsa. Mas mabuti ba kung huwag na lang tumulong, kahit hindi eleksiyon at hindi ka-distrito? O dapat ba ang ipamigay ay pera ng gobyerno, o pera ng contractor? Nagtatanong lang po," Leviste said.

(Ralph Recto is spreading the video of me giving away money from my own pocket last Christmas. Is it better not to help, even if it is not elections and the people were not from your district? Or should the money to be distributed come from the government money, or contractor money? Just asking.)

"'Gawang Recto' lang iyan. Kitang kita sa video na hindi campaign period, kundi Pasko. Ipagbabawal na ba ang pamimigay ng pamasko?" Leviste said in a separate message to GMA News Online.

(That's just 'Recto made'. We can see in the video that it's not campaign period, but Christmas. Will giving away Christmas gifts be banned?)

GMA News Online sought comment from Recto, but he has yet to reply as of posting time.

On Tuesday, 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 rivals in exchange for their withdrawal from the 2025 elections.

Recto's statement came after Leviste, in a privilege speech, tagged CWS party-list Representative 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.

Leviste also alleged that his colleagues were engaged in vote buying and that election spending in areas outside of Batangas are way higher. — VDV/VBL, GMA News