Sen. Loren Legarda’s Son Rep. Leandro Leviste Speaks on Alleged P2-Million Christmas Bonus for Congressmen
Batangas Representative Leandro Legarda Leviste claimed that 318 congressmen allegedly received a P2-million Christmas bonus each.
The supposed multi-billion corruption in the Philippine government left countless Filipinos calling for accountability. It even sparked two (2) grand rallies last September and November 2025 as thousands of Filipinos joined the so-called ‘Trillion Peso March’.
Amid the holiday season, Malacañang previously assured that more people linked to the flood control scam will be “thrown behind bars” in the new year. Contractor Sarah Discaya spent the Christmas holidays detained after President Bongbong Marcos said that more people who are allegedly involved in the flood control corruption will not have a merry Christmas.
Several congressmen and some senators were tagged in the flood control mess aside from the contractors and the officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways. Amid the issue, the bicameral conference committee concluded with a proposed budget for the DPWH that is 40% lower than its main proposal in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).
Amid the flood control issue in the Philippines, Batangas Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste claimed that 318 congressmen allegedly recently received a P2-million Christmas bonus each. The congressman is the son of Senator Loren Legarda.
According to Rep. Leandro Leviste, the supposed P2-million Christmas bonus each for 318 congressmen allegedly came from the P18.58-million Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses or MOOE fund. However, based on a report on The Philippine Star, the Congressman claimed that he will be taking a break until January 26 when the regular session in the House of Representatives is set to resume.
“I just want to say this, because my mother told me ‘Son, of all that you say, don’t discuss the MOOE because that is the most sensitive issue in the entire Congress,’” Leviste told dzMM.
Several congressmen denied the claims of Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste. On the part of Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, he claimed that the P2-million was allegedly not a Christmas bonus. Based on the report, Leviste thanked him over the supposed admission.
“Today, the first thing that I want to say is my thanks to Congressman Ridon and House deputy speaker Ronnie Puno for admitting that there was P2 million released to congressmen last week. Some have denied it. Some said they are not sure how much,” the young Congressman said.
Actor-politician Ramon “Bong” Revilla, a former senator, is one of the popular personalities linked to the flood control scam. Previously, former Sen. Bong Revilla spoke on his alleged involvement in the flood control corruption.
