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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Leviste refuses to give Castro P500M, but offers to pay for her hospitalization

Leviste refuses to give Castro P500M, but offers to pay for her hospitalization

Published Mar 23, 2026 02:06 pm

At A Glance

  • Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste has graciously offered to shoulder Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro's hospital expenses resulting from the "anxiety" caused by his P110-million libel case.
Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste has graciously offered to shoulder Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro's hospital expenses resulting from the "anxiety" caused by his P110-million libel case.
Leviste had this to say in a Facebook post following a press conference held by Castro Monday, March 23 wherein she said in jest that she was demanding P500 million from the former as her counterclaim.
"Humihingi si USec Claire Castro na bayaran ko siya dahil sa 'sleepless nights and anxiety' na dulot umano ng kasong isinampa ko laban sa kanya (USec Claire Castro is demanding that I pay her for the "sleepless nights and anxiety" allegedly caused by the case I filed against her)," the billionaire businessman-turned-lawmaker wrote.
"Wala akong obligasyong bayaran siya. Pero kung kailangan niyang magpagamot ngayon, bukal sa loob kong sagutin ang kanyang gastusin sa ospital (I have no obligation to pay her. But if she truly needs medical treatment now, I am wholeheartedly willing to cover her hospital expenses)," Leviste said.
It was last Jan. 16 when Levite filed the libel case against the Palace official and sought P110 million in moral and exemplary damages, along with attorney’s fees.
The case stemmed from the alleged "fake news" and "libelous statements" that Castro made in connection with the solar energy company that Leviste established and subsequently divested from.
Leviste, 33, is the founder of SP New Energy Corp. (SPNEC). Power distribution giant Meralco bought Leviste's controlling stake in his company for around P34 billion in 2024, the year before he entered the House of Representatives.

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