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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Ilabas mo na': Ridon denies P150-M budget insertion, dares Leviste to release proponents list

'Ilabas mo na': Ridon denies P150-M budget insertion, dares Leviste to release proponents list

Published Dec 22, 2025 05:38 pm

At A Glance

  • Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon denied allegations of a P150-million insertion to the 2025 national budget, which Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste floated during an interview Monday, Dec. 22.
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon (left), Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon (left), Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon denied allegations of a P150-million insertion to the 2025 national budget, which Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste floated during an interview Monday, Dec. 22.
The outspoken Ridon also chided his House colleague Leviste for going the piecemeal route as far as baring the details of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) insertion proponents list was concerned.
Doing so just confuses people, Ridon said.
In the interview Monday, Leviste mentioned Bicol Saro as among those that made a P1150-million insertion to the current P6.326-trillion outlay.
Ridon said in reponse: "Kabababalik lang natin sa Kongreso ngayong taon, 30 June 2025, sa ilalim ng 20th Congress (I only returned to Congress this year, 30 June 2025, under the 20th Congress)."
"Kaya paano ako magkakaroon ng insertions sa 2025 budget kung hindi pa ako congressman noong binuo ang budget na ito noong 2024, sa ilalim ng 19th Congress? (So how could I have had insertions in the 2025 budget if I was not yet a congressman when this budget was drafted in 2024, under the 19th Congress?)" he asked.
"Kaysa lituhin niya pa ang publiko, mas magandang llabas na lang ni Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste ang buo, at hindi pa-konti-konting 2025 DPWH project listing with proponents na sinasabi niya," the lawyer-solon said.
(Instead of confusing the public, it would be better if Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste released in full, and not in piecemeal, the 2025 DPWH project listing with proponents.)
Leviste, who took on the role of anti-infrastructure projects corruption crusader, said he received the list from former DPWH undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral before her sudden passing last Dec. 18.
Authorities are currently looking into whether or not there was foul play in Cabral's death.
Leviste said the insertion proponents list includes House of Representatives members, senators, executive officials “including secretaries and undersecretaries outside DPWH”, and private individuals.
Ridon further dared Leviste to unveil the full list "as soon as possible".
"Hindi niya kailangan ng abiso mula sa Kongreso o kay DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon para gawin ito (He does not need authorization from Congress or from DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon to do so)," the Bicol Saro solon said.
"Higit na mahalaga, mahalagang ipaliwanag ni Rep. Leviste bakit niya hindi ito inilabas pagkakuha niya ng sinasabi niyang dokumento mula kay yumaong DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral noong Sept. 4, 2025, o higit tatlong buwan na ang nakalipas," underscored Ridon.
(More importantly, Rep. Leviste must explain why he did not release this after obtaining the document he claims from the late DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral on Sept. 4, 2025—more than three months ago.)
"Mahalagang ipaliwanag din niya kung bakit ngayon lang niya binabanggit ang listahang ito, ngayong patay na ang nag-iisang maaaring makapagpatunay ng authenticity ng dokumentong ito," he said.
(He must also explain why he is only mentioning this list now, when the only person who could have confirmed the authenticity of this document has already passed away.)
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