BATANGAS, Philippines - Batangas Vice-Governor Mark Leviste has lashed out at people calling for his imprisonment after he was found guilty by a municipal court for being the mastermind in the planting of a dummy bomb at the provincial capitol compound 4 years ago.
Leviste, in a press statement Tuesday, said the case has been elevated to a regional trial court (RTC). "Hanggang ngayon hindi pa nga nagsisimulang dinggin ang kaso sa RTC kung kaya't di pa ito natatapos at wala pang desisyon ang korte."
He said he can still raise the case to the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. "Mahaba pa ang proseso, at karapatan pang-tao ko na maging malaya," he added.
Leviste's personal driver, Edward Ronquillo, earlier turned state witness and tagged his former boss as the brains behind the scheme.
"I know, Mr. Ronquillo knows, and even God knows that I am innocent," the Batangas official claimed.
He called Ronquillo a "pathological liar."
"Si Ronquillo na nga ang nag-imbento ng storya, tapos siya pa ang hihingi ng hustisya? Eh ako pa nga ho ang biktima dine, dahil sa kasinungalingan na ginawa ni Ronquillo," he said. "Ang aming pagkakilala kay Ronquillo ay sakit na niya ang magsinungaling at siya ay mahilig magpagamit kung kani-kanino. He is a pathological liar."
Leviste denied sending death threats to his former driver.
"We do not know their contact details, their locations, their whereabouts, and we don't intend to find-out. Hindi po namin gawain at ugali ang manakot o gumawa ng masama. Kung meron man silang natatanggap na banta, nakatitiyak kami na hindi sa amin galing iyon. We have better things to do than waste our time or stoop down to his level," he said.
Leviste also criticized a group of former political detainees who are calling for his imprisonment.
"It is a pity that an organization such as SELDA judged me even if they do not know me personally, don't know my real character, and even if they are not familiar with the case. I hope that they can be more objective and sensitive ... next time they jump on an issue," he said.
