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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Is Leviste eyeing Batangas gubernatorial seat in 2028?

Is Leviste eyeing Batangas gubernatorial seat in 2028?

Published Apr 27, 2026 07:08 pm

At A Glance

  • Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste says he currently has no plans to run for provincial governor in 2028 despite his recent criticisms against incumbent Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto.
Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (Facebook)
Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (Facebook)


Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste says he currently has no plans to run for provincial governor in 2028 despite his recent criticisms against incumbent Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto.
Leviste, a neophyte congressman, was asked pointblank about the rumored gubernatorial run on Monday afternoon, April 27, during a Zoom interview with House reporters.
"Wala po akong plano ngayon. Unang-una dahil nasa Kongreso ako at pinaglilingkuran ko ang aking distrito bilang kinatawan sa Kongreso (I have no plans right now. First and foremost, because I am in Congress and serving my district as its representative)," Leviste answered.
"Ito po naman ay bahagi ng aking tungkulin dahil yung 84 barangays ay galing sa unang distrito ng Batangas (This is part of my duty because the 84 barangays come from the first district of Batangas)," he said.
Earlier Monday, Leviste met with several barangay captains from these 84 villages to assist them after they allegedly failed the get the P200,000 each that were promised to them as aid by the Marcos administration.
"Wala si Gov. Vilma sa flag-raising ngayong umaga. Wala pa ring sagot kung ano ang nangyari sa P16.8 million na ipinangako ni BBM (Bongbong Marcos) para sa 84 barangays...Aminin na lang ninyo ang nangyari at itigil ang pamumulitika sa pera ng bayan," Leviste said in a Facebook post.
(Gov. Vilma was absent from the flag-raising this morning. There is still no answer regarding what happened to the P16.8 million promised by BBM for the 84 barangays...Just admit what happened and stop politicizing the people’s money.)
Leviste would rather support Mandanas
In the same virtual interview, Leviste bared that he actually wanted to see Hermilando "Dodo" Mandanas win the Capitol seat once more.
"Actually ini-encourage ko si dating Gov. Hermilando ‘Dodo’ Mandanas na tumakbo muli bilang governor ng Batanga. At kung tatakbo si Gov. Mandanas sa 2028 nais ko pong suportahan ang kanyang kandidatura," he said.
(Actually, I am encouraging former Gov. Hermilando ‘Dodo’ Mandanas to run again as governor of Batangas. And if Gov. Mandanas runs in 2028, I would like to support his candidacy.)
Leviste, 33, said his actions shouldn't be immediately construed as having political agenda, "especially if we speak the truth".
"Ang pinaglalaban lamang po natin ay kung ano ang tama at kung ano po ang totoo. At hindi ko lang po kaya na hindi labanan ang isang bagay kung nakikita ko po na mali siya at makaka-apekto po ito sa 84 barangays ng aking distrito," he noted.
(What we are fighting for is simply what is right and what is true. And I just cannot stand by without opposing something when I see that it is wrong and that it will affect the 84 barangays of my district.)

Related Tags

Leandro Legarda Leviste Batangas Governor 2028 elections Vilma Santos Hermilando \'Dodo\' Mandanas
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