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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Benitez sees Leviste's plenary tirade as a teachable moment; imparts advice

Benitez sees Leviste's plenary tirade as a teachable moment; imparts advice

Published May 10, 2026 03:54 am

At A Glance

  • Deputy Speaker Albee Benitez frames Rep. Leandro Leviste's plenary tirade as a teachable moment, stressing that sessions should be treated with respect and used for constructive debate that advances national development.
  • Benitez advises lawmakers to avoid using the plenary as a platform for unverified accusations, warning that excessive politics hampers progress and urging that change must begin with legislators themselves.
  • House leaders say privilege speeches must be grounded in truth, respect, and proper documentation.
Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (left), Bacolod City lone district Rep. Albee Benitez (Facebook)
Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (left), Bacolod City lone district Rep. Albee Benitez (Facebook)


House Deputy Speaker Bacolod City lone district Rep. Albee Benitez has cited Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste's recent plenary rant against his own congressman-colleagues as a teachable moment for the younger crop pf lawmakers.
For one thing, Benitez--in a recent interview--said that the plenary session in the House of Representatives should be treated with respect for what it is.
He said that legislators should view plenary sessions as a venue for productive debate that contributes to national development, such as building measures to help the Philippines stay competitive in the region, instead of wasting time and resources on political issues.
“We should make it more as a constructive platform for us to be able to move this country towards a progressive state where we've been left behind by our Asian counterparts. That's not because we don't have the resources or the assets to do that,” Benitez said.
“It's really us shooting ourselves in the foot,” added the Visayan bloc leader.
On Tuesday, May 5, Leviste delivered a privilege speech and insinuated that Executive Secretary Ralph Recto was involved in corruption by way of his alleged links to Construction Workers Solidarity (CWS) Party-list Rep. Edwin Gardiola.
Leviste also claimed that all members of Congress had knowledge on vote-buying during the 2025 elections.
“I don't really subscribe to the idea of using the platform to be able to hit any person in government or any agency in government. We have so much problems. We want to be able to move forward and find the right solutions," he said in reaction to Leviste’s speech.
Benitez added that such incidents, where politics dominates legislative time and discourse, can hamper national development and progress.
“Too much politics is governing our institutions. We want less of that. Again, one of those that derail our development and our mobility to progress is we love politics too much,” he noted.
Benitez went on to give a simple advice to the 33-year-old neophyte congressman from Batangas.
"Gusto mo ng pagbabago? (Do you want change?) It has to start with us,” he said.
Other House leaders have criticized Leviste for what they called unparliamentary behavior during his privilege speech, after he made "reckless, offensive, and sweeping" accusations against fellow lawmakers.
Deputy Speaker La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V and Deputy Speaker Zambales 1st district Rep. Jay Khonghun said privilege speeches are meant for responsible speech grounded in truth, not rumors and unverified claims.
Even in disagreements, Ortega said, Congress should raise concerns with respect, discipline, and fairness toward colleagues.
The House ultimately carried a motion to strike out portions of Leviste’s speech, considering he raised allegations on the plenary floor without supporting documents, sworn statements, or any formal complaint filed before the proper forum to substantiate his claims.

Related Tags

Albee Benitez Leandro Legarda Leviste ralph recto Vote-buying
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