MANILA, Philippines - Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste has confirmed that he applied for a five-month travel authority from the House of Representatives after he was pushed by some "representatives of the administration" to go abroad.
An online report said that Leviste sought travel clearance from the House Secretariat for an overseas trip from February 8 to July 26 to 20 different countries across the globe.
Among the countries where the neophyte lawmaker will visit include the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Australia, the United Kingdom, China and the United Arab Emirates.
In a message to reporters on Friday night, Leviste confirmed that he applied the travel authority.
"I asked for the travel authority upon the request of representatives of the administration who asked that I go abroad and stop releasing evidence linking government officials to anomalous DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) projects," Leviste said, without naming these "representatives" and that they requested this directly to his mother, Sen. Loren Legarda,
He added that he does not intend to be abroad for the whole time and will remain present at any opportunity that Congress gives him to speak on any issue as long as he is asked or allowed.
Leviste also said that he plans to visit countries where there is a significant Filipino community.
