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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lacson is Leviste's 'lodi'

Lacson is Leviste's 'lodi'

Published Dec 28, 2025 09:19 pm

At A Glance

  • Anti-infrastructure corruption crusader Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste has revealed who his "inspiration" is, and they're cut from the same cloth.
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson (left), Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (Facebook)
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson (left), Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (Facebook)


Anti-infrastructure corruption crusader Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste has revealed who his "inspiration" is, and they're cut from the same cloth.
"Nais ko pong i-credit si Senate President Pro Tempore [Panfilo] "Ping" Lacson dahil siya nga talaga po ang inspirasyon sa lahat ng aking ginagawa ngayon (I would like to give credit to Senate President Pro Tempore [Panfilo] ‘Ping’ Lacson because he truly is the inspiration behind everything I am doing now)," Leviste said in a radio interview Sunday, Dec. 28.
Leviste admired what Lacson stood for, especially the latter's maxim.
"Ang kanyang slogan nga po ay, 'Ang tama, ipagalaban; ang mali, labanan (His slogan is, ‘What is right, fight for it; what is wrong, fight against it),'" the 32-year-old solon from Batangas said of Lacson, who is from Cavite.
In the current 20th Congress, Leviste has taken it upon himself to expose the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget per congressional district and so-called "allocables" or the annual earmarked amounts that a district congressman may allocate.
This was all in the backdrop of the flood control projects corruption scandal, which Leviste helped bring public attention to particularly after former DPWH Batangas 1st District Engineer Abelardo Calalo tried to bribe him in connection with projects in his district.
Leviste had Calalo arrested in an entrapment operation with police. The congressman eventually pressed charges against the engineer.
Senator Loren Legarda had told Lacson that her son, Leviste wanted to meet him so he could attain more knowledge on how to spot corruption in government. They eventually met in early September.
Lacson is known for his hardline stance against corruption, "pork barrel", and shenanigans with the use of public funds. He is also a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.
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