Leviste wins in historic landslide

MANILA, Philippines — Leandro Legarda Leviste won in a historic landslide as representative of the first district of Batangas in the newly concluded midterm elections.

Leviste was accompanied by his mother, Sen. Loren Legarda, during his proclamation at the provincial capitol a day after the May 12 elections.

He garnered 268,764 votes, defeating incumbent Cong. Eric Buhain, who received 91,588.

The number of Leviste’s votes was the highest ever received by a candidate running against a sitting member of Congress in the recent election.

The figure was also the highest in the history of congressional race in Batangas.

Leviste’s victory marked the first defeat for Buhain, husband of former congresswoman Eileen Ermita-Buhain, in an election.

The family of Buhain’s wife has dominated the first district of Batangas for 30 years.

Campaigning on the message “Paunlarin Natin Ang Unang Distrito,” Leviste called for a greater support from the government for the development of the western part of Batangas.

He vowed to focus on education, infrastructure and job creation, along with a goal to make the first district as the most developed and prosperous in the entire province.

Leviste is the country’s youngest billionaire entrepreneur. He shifted to public service in 2024 after selling Meralco his stake in his company, Solar Philippines New Energy Corp.