 His election was an indication of the Filipino Methodists desire of change in their church politics.The personal background of Leo, having family roots from the North of the country yet living and representing the South, became a symbol of the desire of the Church to be all-inclusive and intentional in representing equally all ethnic groups of the country.He served as the Resident Bishop of the Davao episcopal area, one of three episcopal areas of the Philippines, for 12 years (2000-2012).