Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste has raised allegations of systemic budget manipulation, including the use of project allocations as leverage over Congress members during 2026 budget deliberations.
Since December 26, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste has held press conferences alleging systemic budget manipulation. He claims DPWH allocations exceed the P401.3-billion 'allocable' budget, with lawmakers asked to submit projects before official amendments: P150 million for district representatives' infrastructure, P160 million for party-list groups, and P30 million for 'soft projects'.
"If public funds are being used as so-called ‘incentives’ for congressmen before voting on the 2026 budget, the public should at least know the ‘allocables’ or ‘incentives’ each congressman gets," Leviste said.
In his second allegation, during an October 16 briefing criticizing DPWH contractor-appointees, he received a call from a senior DPWH official inquiring about his district's budget and offering extra funds for classrooms. "Exactly," he replied when asked if it was a bribe.
Third, he presented a screenshot of a chat listing P151 million in 'incentives' from various agencies before the vote. Rep. Mikaela Suansing denied offering such incentives, stating budget support is not conditioned on voting behavior.
Fourth, he argued the DPWH allocation system lacks fairness and disadvantages certain regions. The Palace and DPWH dismissed the claims as 'hearsay' without probative value, questioning the timing amid accusations that Leviste illegally took files from the late Undersecretary Catalina Cabral. Secretary Vince Dizon said, "His stealing files from her computer, it has no imprimatur."
Meanwhile, Malacañang has begun a thorough review of the P6.793-trillion 2026 budget ratified on December 29, potentially leading to a brief reenactment of the 2025 budget.
