Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Leviste – Photo courtesy of Leandro Leviste /Facebook.
Malacañang on Tuesday dismissed Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste’s claim that the Philippines is under de facto martial law, describing it as an opinion that does not merit official reply.
“Not all wrong opinions deserve a response from the Palace,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in reaction to Leviste’s statement.
Castro told reporters that both the media and the public can judge for themselves whether Leviste’s claims hold any truth.
She also countered his allegation that critics of the administration face legal harassment while allies go unscathed, emphasizing that complaints are pursued only when warranted under the law.
Leviste had posted on social media that many remain silent out of fear, claiming that opposition figures are targeted first while billions in budgets go unquestioned, including payments to certain media personalities and online troll networks.
He compared the current situation to the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., but said civil society and opposition groups are pushing back and warned that those who stay silent may be seen as complicit.
Leviste also called on the public to support government whistleblowers and expose corruption, insisting transparency is essential for the nation’s future.
The tension comes amid a libel case Leviste filed against Castro, accusing her of making false statements about his solar energy business, a complaint Castro suggested could aim to silence her commentary on related issues.