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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ridon blasts Leviste for 'lying' again

Ridon blasts Leviste for 'lying' again

Published Jan 3, 2026 03:54 am

At A Glance

  • Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon has once again called out Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste over his alleged lies.
Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (left), Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon (Facebook, MANILA BULLETIN)
Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (left), Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon (Facebook, MANILA BULLETIN)


Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon has once again called out Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste over his alleged lies.
This time, Ridon says its Leviste’s claim that House of Representatives members received a P2-million Christmas bonus that doesn't make sense.
"Hinahanap ko ‘yung bonus. Unang-una sa lahat, meron talagang pattern ng kasinungalingan, falsities, inaccuracies si Congressman Leviste at isa na naman po ito sa halimbawa nun," the lawyer-solon said in a DZMM interview Friday, Jan. 2.
(I am looking for the bonus. First of all, Congressman Leviste truly has a pattern of lies, falsities, and inaccuracies, and this is yet another example of that.)
It was only two weeks ago when Leviste, a rookie congressman, accused Ridon of making a P150-million insertion in the 2025 national budget. Ridon said this simply can't be true, since the 2025 budget was crafted the year prior, and that he returned to the House only last June 30, 2025.
While Ridon called the Batangueño's P2-million Christmas bonus claim baloney, the former did admit that solons' offices received money for operational costs. As such, this shouldn't be viewed in a malicious manner.
“Hindi totoo na may P2-million Christmas bonus. May mga ibinigay na kaperahan para sa mga opisina ng kongresista para sa mga aktibidad at mga programa at gawain na ginagawa ng mga kongresista. Ibig sabihin hindi iyan para perahin o para sa kapritso," he said.
(It is not true that there is a P2-million Christmas bonus. Funds were given to the offices of congressmen for activities, programs, and tasks carried out by the congressmen. This means it is not for cashing in or for whims.)
Ridon said that technically, funds were part of the House’s budget for Maintenance and other Operating Expenses (MOOE).
"Kasama sa listahan sa extraordinary miscellanous expenses na binibigay sa opisina. Hindi napupunta sa wallet o pitaka ng kongresista (It is included on the list of extraordinary miscellaneous expenses given to the office. It does not go into the wallet or pocket of the congressman)," he explained.
Ridon says the funds are typically given at the end of sessions. It was only last Dec. 29 that the House held its final session of the year.
Leviste--a self-styled anti-infrastructure corruption crusader--earlier took exception to being called a liar by Ridon, and insisted that his more experienced colleague was the real liar.
Meanwhile, the party-list lawmaker has questioned Leviste’s methods, particularly the way he collects budget documents from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Ridon says this is ample ground for an ethics complaint.
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