Bicol Saro Partylist Representative Terry Ridon has criticized Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste for urging government agencies to release unofficial or pre-authenticated documents tied to the alleged flood control scam.
Ridon stressed that government offices cannot operate by issuing incomplete or unauthenticated records, underscoring the importance of properly validated documents in ensuring accountability.
“Hindi ginagawa ng gobyernong maglabas ng unauthenticated at partial files tulad ng ginawa ni Rep. Leandro Leviste, dahil mahalaga ang complete at authenticated files sa aktwal na trabaho nito ng pagpapanagot ng mga sangkot sa flood control scam,” Ridon said.
He added that the public should be left to decide whether to accept the documents presented by Leviste.
“Bahala na ang publikong magdesisyon kung tinatanggap nilang totoo ang mga inilalabas ni Rep. Leviste na mga dokumento,” the solon added.
Ridon noted that Leviste himself admitted the documents had not undergone proper vetting and were only purportedly sourced from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
One of the records, Ridon said, listed a ₱30 million allocation for CWS Partylist Representative Edwin Gardiola under the Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients (MAIP) program—an inconsistency that raised doubts.
“Walang programa sa DPWH na MAIP ang pangalan. Ang alam ng mga taong MAIP program ay nasa ilalim ng Department of Health, ang tinatawag na Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients,” he explained.
He further questioned why a Department of Health program would appear as a line item in a document supposedly from DPWH.
“Kaya kung ito ang MAIP na programa ng DOH, bakit ito mailalagay bilang line item sa sinasabing official document ng DPWH, bagamat unvetted at unverified,” Ridon added.
Ridon emphasized that Leviste should have examined the records more carefully before presenting them publicly.
“Dapat nakita ito agad ni Rep. Leviste bago niyo inilahad sa publiko, binanggit sa press conference at media interviews,” Ridon said.
During a press conference last Wednesday, Leviste was asked how the documents could still be authenticated following the death of former Public Works Undersecretary Catalina Cabral.
“I hope they will tell the truth because if people lie, then they are opening themselves up for others to call them out for lying,” Leviste said.
He also challenged officials handling the records, urging journalists to press them on why unofficial copies have not been released.
“Pero kapag ang mga may hawak ng mga nasabing files ay humaharap sa inyo, at ang sinasabi nila ay ‘Hintayin natin ang pag-o-authenticate or and forensic examination.’ Sa aking palagay, dapat niyong i-follow up question: Bakit hindi kayo maglabas ng unofficial copy or pre-authentication copy?” he added.