Batangas vice gov, pa deny link to drug syndicate

MANILA, Philippines - Batangas Vice Gov. Marc Leviste and his father Conrad appeared before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday and denied any link to the drug syndicate busted in a police raid on their family-owned ranch in Lipa City last Christmas Day.

Accompanied by separate lawyers, the two submitted affidavits to the DOJ investigating panel and documents pertaining to the ownership of the LPL ranch where three suspects were arrested and shabu worth P420 million was seized.

The vice governor submitted copies of a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) certificate of filing amended articles of incorporation, as well as a transfer certificate of title showing the property was owned by Running Spring Real Estate Inc.

He admitted that Running Spring, where the drug suspects were nabbed, was one of their family corporations and that he was a “nominal stockholder” of the company. 

But he clarified: “I have not participated in any way in the operations of Running Spring since I was elected as a public official.”

“I earlier informed my family of my intent not to be involved and deliberately chose to concentrate on my duties as a government employee and render public service to the province of Batangas and my fellow Batangueños,” his affidavit stated.

He said the ranch was later leased to a certain Jorge/George Torres, who he denied having known or ever met. He also said he was unaware of any illegal activities happening in the property.

“I specifically deny any insinuation, hint, allusion, innuendo, allegation or reference that my family members, our family companies and myself have any direct or indirect connection with the Sinaloa Mexico and/or Chinese drug cartels,” he added.

His father Conrad submitted a similar affidavit. “I would not and will never allow any of our family’s properties to be used by any person for illegal activities,” he said.

Both Levistes attached copies of the lease agreement LBJ Development Corp entered into with Jorge Torres, certificate of registration and articles of incorporation of LBJ from the SEC, a management agreement between LBJ and Running Spring dated June 18, 2013, and LBJ general information sheet as of Jan. 19, 1987.

Conrad is twin brother of former governor Antonio Leviste, who appeared before the DOJ in a hearing last Jan. 9 and also denied any link to the arrested suspects.