WHEN news broke out on the arrest of a district engineer in Batangas over an alleged attempt to bribe a billionaire congressman, there was a public clamor to send more crooks behind the bar.
The bribery, according to reports, was meant to stop Congressman Leandro Leviste from pursuing an investigation into the anomalous flood control projects in the first congressional district which he represents in the lower legislative chamber.
Following a confirmation from the Philippine National Police regional office for the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Leviste was swarmed with praises from equally prominent personalities and the netizens.
For them, the act in itself represents hope that corruption is not invincible after all.
BILLIONAIRE AT 20
Leandro Antonio Leviste comes from a wealthy political family who have been in office for a combined 42 years — his father is former Batangas Governor Antonio Leviste. His mom is Senator Loren Legarda.
The young Leviste obtained his degree in political science from Yale University, a private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States.
At 32, already owned business interests in energy, agriculture, real estate, media & broadcasting.
Leviste founded Solar Philippines in 2013 and listed its subsidiary, SP New Energy Corporation (SPNEC), in 2021, becoming the youngest-ever chairman of a company on the Philippine Stock Exchange.
POLITICIAN AT 32
In 2023, the young Leviste already knew where he’s headed — the same path with that of his former governor father and his mom who is an incumbent senator.
Between 2023 and 2025, Leviste sold 14.60 billion shares of SPNEC to Meralco for P18.26 billion and 1.84 billion shares of SPNEC to public shareholders for P2.23 billion for a combined P20.49 billion.
It was not certain though how much exactly he spent from the time he hinted at running for public office — and the amount he burned to launch an effective political campaign for his 2025 congressional bid, which he obviously won.
DIVESTING INTERESTS
After winning the election for Batangas’ first congressional district, Leviste sold his remaining shares at the SPNEC for a mind-boggling P34 billion, in compliance with Republic Act 6713 Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).
The law establishes a framework for ethical behavior and accountability in the Philippine public service. Part of the law requires public officials to divest business interests prior to assumption to office — which he did, or so we thought.
Web sources showed that the young Leviste also invested in media. He reportedly owns 10% in media giant ABS-CBN Corporation, making him its largest shareholder after Lopez Inc.
Leviste’s Countryside Investments Holdings Corporation also invested P5 billion in Roxas Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Central Azucarera Don Pedro, Inc.
NOT A SUPERHERO
While the act of sending a crook behind bars in itself is commendable, doubts are raised as to the motive behind the supposed entrapment operation.
Unlike Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, the young Leviste pulled off the trick after the so-called Mayors For Good Governance founder Benjamin Magalong dragged congressmen into the dubious scheme embarking on “kickbacks.”
Since assuming the top local elective post in 2019, Sotto has radically transformed governance by putting in place mechanisms — allowing the public to attend public biddings — for which the city government was able to save billions now being used to cover wider services and benefits for Pasig City residents.
Interestingly, both Sotto and Leviste are direct descendants of political dynasties. But unlike Leviste, Sotto is not fond of attending press conferences, media forums, and even television interviews.