MANILA, Philippines, Feb. 13, 2026 — Camarines Sur Governor Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jr. has formally asked the board of the Alabang Country Club to begin expulsion proceedings against former Batangas vice governor Mark Leviste and his son, former Lian vice mayor Ronin Leviste, escalating a dispute over the results of the 38th Mango Tee Golf Tournament.

In a letter dated February 10, Villafuerte urged the club’s directors to issue a clarificatory resolution that would clear his name of any insinuations of cheating or misconduct. 

“I am formally demanding that the Board issue and publish an additional clarificatory resolution stating, in unequivocal terms, that I took no part in any irregularity, cheating, or improper conduct, and that I should be cleared of any wrongful imputation,” Villafuerte wrote.

The controversy stems from the prestigious Mango Tee member-guest tournament held earlier this month, where Villafuerte and his partner Edward Francisco were initially awarded Division III Team Champion trophies.

However, the Alabang Country Club board later disqualified both Villafuerte’s team and the Levistes’ team, citing “highly unusual and statistically improbable” scores under the handicapping system.

Villafuerte said he is prepared to return the trophies under protest but insisted that he and his partner’s scores were legitimate compared to those of the Levistes. He also noted that the Levistes were “heavily booed” during the awarding ceremony, reflecting the tension surrounding the results.

The governor’s demand for expulsion proceedings against the Levistes marks a significant escalation in the dispute, which has already drawn widespread attention among golf enthusiasts and the public. The Alabang Country Club board has yet to issue a response to Villafuerte’s request.

This controversy underscores the high stakes and prestige associated with the Mango Tee, one of the country’s most prominent golf tournaments, and highlights how disputes over scoring and sportsmanship can spill over into public and political arenas.

Image from Tribune Golf