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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Leandro Leviste posts landslide victory vs Eric Buhain in Batangas first district

Leandro Leviste posts landslide victory vs Eric Buhain in Batangas first district

Published May 14, 2025 12:56 pm  |  Updated May 14, 2025 01:52 pm
Leandro Legarda Leviste registered a historic landslide victory as Batangas first district representative in the 2025 elections.
Leviste was accompanied by his mother, Sen. Loren Legarda, during his official proclamation as congressman-elect on Tuesday morning, May 13, at the Batangas Provincial Capitol in Batangas City.
BATANGAS Rep.-elect Leandro Leviste and mother Sen. Loren Legarda. (FB)
Leviste secured 268,764 votes or 75 percent of the total. He defeated Rep. Eric Buhain who received 91,588 votes.
This marks the highest percentage won against any sitting member of Congress nationwide this election cycle and the most votes ever recorded in any congressional race in the history of Batangas.
Leviste’s win marks the first-ever electoral defeat ofBuhain, the husband of former Rep. Eileen Ermita-Buhain, whose family has held the position of Batangas first district representative for 30 years.
It is the first time since 1972 that the district has elected a representative outside the Ermita or Apacible families.
Leviste defeated Buhain in all eight municipalities and cities of the first district, comprised of Balayan, Calaca, Calatagan, Lemery, Lian, Nasugbu, Taal, and Tuy.
Campaigning on the slogan “Paunlarin Natin Ang Unang Distrito” (Let us make the first district progressive), Leviste called for greater support from the national government for the development of western Batangas.
Leviste’s landslide victory is seen as a clear mandate for his platform to focus on education, infrastructure, and job creation, with a goal of turning the first district into the most developed and prosperous district of Batangas.
In press conference after his proclamation, Leviste said: “I would like to thank everyone who encouraged me to run and supported our campaign. We will now work on our programs for education and infrastructure development, and hope this election gives people more hope for the future in the first district.”
Leviste, 32, is the country’s youngest billionaire entrepreneur. He decided to focus on public service in 2024 after selling a controlling stake in his company, Solar Philippines New Energy Corp., for P34 billion to the Manila Electric Co.

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Batangas Leandro Legarda Leviste Sen. Loren Legarda
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