Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Legarda Leviste has called on Bicol Saro Partylist Representative Terry Ridon to step down as chairperson of the House Committee on Public Accounts, even as he stressed that the issue is separate from the alleged 2025 budget insertions.
In a statement, Leviste said he will file a resolution seeking an investigation into infrastructure projects awarded to Bicol Goldrock Construction, GCI Construction, and other firms owned by spouses Steve and Gigi Ibasco, as well as the alleged project insertions linked to the Bicol Saro party-list and its connection to the Ibascos.
Leviste said the Ibasco-owned firms secured ₱42.3 billion worth of contracts in the Bicol region and more than ₱4.6 billion worth of projects in Batangas’ first district.
He also cited Senate hearings where GCI was identified as the Department of Agriculture’s top contractor for farm-to-market road projects in 2024.
“GCI/Bicol Goldrock are actually the top DPWH contractor in my district. They are also the top contractor in Cong. Ridon’s province of Camarines Sur, and have reportedly built some of the most overpriced and substandard roads in the country, so I thank Cong. Ridon for bringing attention to the Ibasco family’s projects,” Leviste said.
Leviste further cited documents attributed to former Public Works Undersecretary Catalina Cabral, claiming the projects were part of the so-called “CENTI2025” list.
“According to the files from USec Cabral, the Ibasco companies’ projects were part of the “CENTI2025” list of projects, which are suspected ‘parked funds’ or ‘pre-ordered’ by contractors. Of the ₱954.9 million in this list for my district, ₱514.3 million of projects went to Gardiola-linked companies and ₱440.6 million of projects went to Ibasco companies,” he added.
Leviste said Ridon should relinquish his committee post to allow a fair investigation.
Ridon, however, denied the allegations, saying it was impossible for him to have inserted ₱150 million worth of projects into the 2025 budget since he was not a member of the 19th Congress, which approved the budget. He assumed office as Bicol Saro representative only on June 30, 2025.
Cabral’s files reportedly show two ₱75 million road insertions in Camarines Sur linked to Bicol Saro, with the projects allegedly awarded to Bicol Goldrock at ₱73.5 million, or about two percent below the approved budget.
Leviste said Ridon should seek clarification from Bicol Saro regarding the projects and urged fellow lawmakers to remove Ridon as chair of the House Committee on Public Accounts.