Batangas Lawmaker Calls for Removal of Bicol Saro Rep. from House Committee Chairmanship Amid Budget Insertion Probe

Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Legarda Leviste has called on the leadership of the House of Representatives to relieve Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon from his position as chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts. The request was made on Tuesday, December 23, as Leviste announced his intention to file a resolution seeking a congressional inquiry into alleged budget insertions concerning Camarines Sur’s leading contractor and Bicol Saro Party-list’s involvement.

The proposed investigation targets projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) linked to Bicol Goldrock Construction and GCI Construction, companies owned by Steve and Gigi Ibasco.

Leviste stated, "Cong. Ridon should not conceal Bicol Saro Party-list’s budget insertions for 2025 or 2026 if his party truly has no connection to the Ibasco family, owners of Bicol Goldrock, which secured the projects they proposed." He further emphasized that Ridon’s leadership role must be reconsidered to ensure an unbiased investigation.

"For the inquiry into the Ibasco companies and the alleged insertions in the 2025 DPWH budget to be impartial, I urge our colleagues to remove Cong. Ridon as chair of the House Committee on Public Accounts," Leviste added.

Ridon’s committee plays a crucial role as a legislative body overseeing government accountability and anti-corruption measures. Ridon also serves as one of the four co-chairmen of the quad-comm version 2.0 in the 20th Congress.

Leviste referenced documents from the late DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, which purportedly list insertion proponents in the 2025 national budget. According to these files, projects linked to the Ibasco family companies appeared in the so-called "CENTI2025" list — projects suspected as "parked funds" or pre-arranged contract awards.

The Batangas lawmaker revealed that Bicol Saro Party-list allegedly proposed ₱150 million worth of projects in the 2025 DPWH budget, including two road projects in Camarines Sur worth ₱75 million each, connecting Veneracion, Pamplona to Odicon, Pasacao. Both contracts were reportedly awarded to Bicol Goldrock at ₱73.5 million each, roughly 2 percent below the approved budget.

Ridon has denied involvement in the budget insertions, noting that he only assumed office on June 30, 2022, during the 20th Congress. "How could I have made insertions to the 2025 budget if I was not yet a congressman when it was finalized in 2024 under the 19th Congress?" he questioned.

Leviste clarified that his accusations were directed toward the Bicol Saro Party-list collectively, not Ridon personally. In response, Ridon, a lawyer, labeled Leviste’s claims as falsehoods and accused him of spreading misinformation.