Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste acknowledged that his mother, Senator Loren Legarda, had project insertions in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget for 2025, citing documents obtained from the late Public Works Undersecretary Catalina Cabral.
In a radio interview, Leviste said the records showed that all senators had insertions in the 2025 national budget approved in 2024 by the 19th Congress, including those whose terms ended in June 2025.
“Ako po’y humihingi ng paumanhin sa mga senador pero ayon sa aking pagka-alala sa kanyang files, may kopya po ako dito sa aking laptop, wala po akong maalala na hindi kasama sa listahan,” Leviste said.
When asked directly if Legarda was among those listed, Leviste answered yes.
“I can say, nandiyan. Tinanong ko siya at sinabi niya, hindi naman niya alam iyong mga nakalista diyan at sa mga senador actually pinakamaliit ang sa kanya,” he said.
Leviste added that while his mother denied knowledge of the specific projects under her name, all documents he reviewed consistently included her.
“Pero tinanong ko siya talaga at sabi niya, hindi niya alam ang mga ito. Pero kinukumpirma ko po na lahat ng tiningnan ko ay nandiyan sa listahan,” he said.
According to Leviste, senatorial insertions in the DPWH budget reached around ₱120 billion, with about ₱1 billion attributed to Legarda.
“Parang compensation ang lumalabas ang mga insertions na ’to dahil kahit hindi ka naman eksperto sa flood control pinapapili ka pa ng lugar kung saan popondo ng flood control project,” he said.
Leviste also warned that the documents could eventually be made public, noting that multiple copies exist within government offices.
“Sa tingin ko balang araw lalabas din lahat ng files na ito kasi marami naman pong mga kopya sa loob ng gobyerno at ako nga po ay concern para sa kanila dahil andaming ayaw na lumabas ang files na ’to,” he added.