Ex-Batangas Governor Leviste, convicted of homicide, backs Binay

BAUAN, Batangas—Former Batangas Gov. Antonio “Tony” Leviste, who was convicted of homicide in 2009 but was released on parole after four years in prison, has endorsed the candidacy of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Binay arrived here on Friday afternoon for a campaign rally held at a covered court in Bauan Technical High School.

The Vice President’s father, Diego Binay, hails from Bauan, Batangas.

READ: Binay goes to Batangas, woos father’s home province

Leviste took the stage at the campaign rally and said only a fellow Batangueño like Binay understood the plight of the residents.

Leviste said he had known Binay since they were children playing basketball in Makati City.

“Hindi na ako kandidato sa pulitika pero hindi pwedeng hindi ako pumunta rito. Bata pa kami sa Makati, naglalaro na kami ng basketball. Ganun na kami katagal magkakilala,” Leviste said.

Leviste also performed magic tricks on stage for the cheering crowd.

He brought out a tissue and tore it to pieces, saying the current administration had divided the country like the piece of tissue paper he’s holding.

But under a Binay presidency, the country would be whole again, Leviste said, crumpling the tissue into a ball and bringing it out again whole, drawing cheers from the crowd.

“Nung naging presidente, nagkapunit-punit ngayon, wala na pag-asa ang Pilipinas pagkat punit punit … Pag magkakasama-sama kay Binay, mabu-buo uli!” Leviste said, showing off his magic trick.

“Ngayon lang ako hihingi ng pabor … Walang magmamahal sa Batangueño kundi kapwa Batangueño … Iboto si Binay sa darating na halalan for president!” Leviste added.

In 2009, the Makati Regional Trial Court convicted Leviste of homicide for shooting dead his aide Rafael de las Alas in 2007.

The parole of Leviste, the former husband of Sen. Loren Legarda, was granted in 2013 by the Board of Pardons and Parole.

Just weeks after he was released, Leviste was accused of owning a game fowl farm in Lipa City which yielded P420 million worth of “shabu.” The former governor said he was only leasing the property.

Binay arrived at the Bauan campus and was greeted by the residents before dusk. A group of elderly women were seen giggling after giving a kiss to the Vice President.

During his speech, Binay recounted memories of visiting his father’s hometown, adding it’s about time Bauan had a president to lead the country.

Binay said the country did not need a bumbling president who got confused in times of disaster, and a neophyte candidate who would only learn about being the chief executive while on the job, seemingly taking a swipe against rivals Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas and independent candidate Sen. Grace Poe.

“Hindi pwedeng maging pangulo ang walang karasanan, yung natulog lang (at) naalimpungatan, gusto na maging pangulo … Pagkahalal saka lang aalamin ang maging pangulo. Ang tawag dyan, on the job training,” Binay said.

Binay said the last Batangueño president to lead the country was Jose P. Laurel, while the last vice president was Laurel’s son Doy Laurel.

“Kung hindi taga-Batangas, taga-Bauan pa. Pakakawalan pa ba natin ito?” Binay said.

He chided President Benigno Aquino III for hiding in the face of crisis and always putting blame on others.

“Ipakita natin ngayon kung paano mamuno ang Bauan, hindi tulad ngayon, na pag may problema, nagtatago at sinisisi sa dating administrasyon,” Binay said. RC

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