Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste on Friday accused the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. of asking him to leave the country and halt disclosures on alleged anomalies in Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects.
Leviste confirmed he sought travel authority from the House of Representatives for a five-month trip to nearly 20 countries across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America.
He claimed “representatives of the administration” requested his silence on flood control projects.
“I asked for the travel authority upon the request of representatives of the administration who asked that I go abroad and stop releasing evidence linking government officials to anomalous DPWH projects— but this does not mean that I will be abroad for that whole time,” Leviste said in a statement.
He added, “I will be present at any opportunity that Congress gives me to speak on any issue as long as I am asked or allowed.”
Leviste said the request was relayed through his mother, Senator Loren Legarda.
“Several high-level representatives of the administration have requested this- to my mom, so that I do not name them,” he noted.
Pressed to identify the officials, he declined, saying, “The request that I go abroad and stop releasing evidence linking government officials to DPWH projects came from high-level representatives on behalf of the administration.”
The lawmaker said his travel plans would also include visits to Filipino communities abroad.