Ex Batangas gov. Antonio Leviste with Lawyer Cristina Buendia at the DoJ where he submitted comment denying owning the ranch where P420m worth of drugs was confiscated. Tetch Torres-Tupas/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Former Batangas Governor Antonio Leviste appeared before the Department of Justice (DOJ) and submitted documents proving he is not the owner of the ranch where the suspected Mexican drug cartel is operating.
“I present myself before the Honorable Office to fully and unconditionally cooperate in this investigation,” Leviste said Thursday.
Leviste submitted along with his affidavit a certified true copy of title of the ranch showing that the owner is Running Spring Real Estate Inc. and a contract of lease of the 10,000 square meter property of which the lessor is LBJ Development Corporation.
“I do not know and I have never met or would ever want to meet the persons [implicated in this case]…I did not nor could I have had any knowledge or possibly consented to any use, activity, business or any transaction in the property,” he added.
His lawyer, Cristina Buendia, expressed confidence that Leviste’s parole will not be affected by the issue.
Aside from Leviste, also present during Thursday’s preliminary investigation were Gary Tan, Arjay and Rochelle Argenos. The three, who are facing a complaint for Comprehensive Drugs Act, have been given until Jan. 15 to submit their counter-affidavit.
Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera on the other hand said Jorge Torres, lessee of the said property, was a no-show.
“He is a respondent and he needs to submit a counter-affidavit,” Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera said.
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