Who is Atty. Levito D. Baligod?

A chance to meet and greet a senatorial candidate for this 2016 National Election over lunch was something that I took to have an idea as to what is being offered to us common people.  Held at the 101 Buffet at Glorietta 2, I was able to meet Atty. Levito D. Balingod – running independently for a senatorial seat this 2016.

Commonly known as the lawyer that is behind the Napoles presecution, Atty. Levy Balingod is a father to 5 children and married to Marilou Galonzaga in 2014, a former Leyte mayoralty candidate; after his 1^st wife, Marilyn Anne Navarro was claimed by cancer in 2013.  A criminal lawyer by profession with a solid 13 years of experience as a courtroom litigator, Atty. Levy is a person that is truly against corruption and oppressed.

A product of a simple family from Cagayan, he got his degree of Economics and political science from the University of the Philippines and took up law in San Beda College and in the University of the East, where he graduated in 1999.  He passed the bar the following year.

With his experience and love with various NGO groups and students, Atty. Levy felt that he needs to do something and not just limit himself within the four-corners of the courtroom, which explains his action of seeking out a future seat in the senatorial election in 2016.  His desire to control, if not eliminate, corruption, improve the agrarian situation of our farmers and putting back the soul and nationalism in the education system.  He also believes in making a short-term and a long-term term to truly see the development of the country since we go into a 6 years leadership cycle.  His desire to push those 3 thrust into the front are technically intertwined that you get to see how one affects the other as he explains his thoughts on it.

Control/if not Eliminate Corruption

“If we remove the opportunity for corruption to occur, then we limit its occurrence”as stated by Atty. Levy that afternoon. 

After all his experiences in the court and that of the heated Napoles issue, he believes that if we create equal opportunity for everybody then corruption is eliminated.  He knows that totally eliminating corruption will take time, but he also believes that if people see equal opportunity in what they do then they will not desire for something else but simply work on the development of what they have.

Agrarian Development

“Consolidation of land ownership will help us create plans for true land development.  Technology related to agrarian advancement is expensive and is not applicable if a 5-hectare land is split to smaller units due to inheritance.  If we get to consolidate them again, then we can bring in technology that will elevate agrarian standards.  With the farmers, we can lead them to other opportunities such as organic beef farming.  Applying traditional logical concepts of farming with that of technology will lead to proper farming land management, thus lessening the need to use highly concentrated chemical fertilizers that is not good for farming land.

If we show them that farming is something that can elevate their living standards, future farmers will not be missing for they will see what that field is offering.”

Bring Back the Soul and Nationalism in Education

“With the new K-12 program, we are all set to be simply workers.  The arts and the concept of creating new things are not given thought anymore.  Good moral and right conduct (GMRC) and religion (subject) are no longer something given focus in the new education program.  I believe that if we bring this back into focus, we bring back the soul and spirituality with the people.  If they get to believe in the value of what they do based on what is ingrained in them, both in school and in their homes, then they will show more concern to the things that matters most – their fellowmen and the country.”

Giving focus on those things, he believes that we bring back ”real people”; people who will help the government in terms of its plans and strengthen the spirit of nationalism.

With his initial meet and greet session, he aims to reach out to more people and for them to know him and what his name is all about.