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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider P2-M Christmas bonus for congressmen? Suansing denies Leviste's claim

P2-M Christmas bonus for congressmen? Suansing denies Leviste's claim

Published Dec 29, 2025 07:47 pm

At A Glance

  • Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing said there was no such thing as a P2-million Christmas bonus for congressmen, as claimed by Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste.
Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing (left), Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing (left), Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing said there's no such thing as a P2-million Christmas bonus for congressmen, as claimed by Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste.
"I vehemently deny that statement--that's all I'm gonna say," Suansing said in a chance interview Monday afternoon, Dec. 29 minutes after the House's ratification of the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or proposed national budget for 2026.
"I vehemently deny that. I don't want to speak ill of anyone, especially my colleagues in the House but that is, there is no truth to that," Suansing said, avoiding to name anybody in particular.
But it was Leviste, a neophyte solon in the 20th Congress, who mentioned the alleged P2-million Christmas bonus for House members in a radio interview Monday morning.
Suansing chairs the House Committee on Appropriations, while Leviste is a vice chairman. The appropriations committee was the main panel behind the crafting of the GAB.
"Again, I have said that the House leadership does not influence or try to influence any particular congressman, any individual member of Congress to vote in a particular way, or incentivize them in any way, and I know that's what my distinguished colleague was alluding to before," she said.
"And I have vehemently denied that," stressed the Harvard graduate.
Leviste earlier claimed that the House members were offered "incentives" worth at least P151 million ahead of the voting on third and final reading of the 2026 GAB last October.
The Batangas lawmaker has also alleged that the House has a "secret" P18.58 billion in Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) budget.
Asked on the allegation that the House had a separate MOOE for Christmas activities in congressional districts, Suansing also denied this.
"Wala pong ganun (There's no such thing). The MOOE of the House is purely for the operations of the House. And that's all I can say about that.
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