MANILA — Three lawmakers rejected claims by Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste that each congressman and party-list representative received a P2 million “Christmas bonus” from the House of Representatives’ maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) budget.

On Wednesday, December 31, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said the only bonuses lawmakers receive in December are those granted to all government workers, namely the 13th-month pay. He said members of Congress also receive a mid-year bonus, or 14th-month pay, with each bonus equivalent to at least one month’s salary.

“For members of Congress, this would translate to around P300,000 under Salary Grade 31,” Ridon said.

Ridon said the funds released in December to lawmakers’ offices were part of the House’s regular allocations meant to support programs and activities of districts or party-list groups.

“Parang ‘di naman Christmas bonus ang binibigay sa mga kongresista. Parang lahat po ng binibigay po ay para sa mga programa, aktibidad at gawain ng kanya kanyang opisina,” Ridon said over Super Radyo DZBB 594.

House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno also denied that the funds released this month were Christmas bonuses, saying these were “additional funding” for district needs during the holiday season.

Both Ridon and Puno stressed that the transactions are recorded and audited. Ridon added that similar releases had been made in previous Congresses, noting that he was also a lawmaker in 2013.

“I think I’m quite certain na parang in previous years and previous Congresses, mayroon mga ganyan kaperahan para sa mga aktibidad at programa ng mga opisina,” Ridon said.

Makabayan bloc lawmakers also denied receiving any such bonus. Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co said they were not among those who supposedly received the funds.

“Hindi po, wala pong ganu’n. … Kung makikita natin ‘yung breakdown nito, mas mainam dahil ito naman talaga ‘yung at the end of the day, pipiliin natin when it comes to transparency and accountability,” Co said in an interview over True FM.

Leviste has argued that some funds released to offices through checks fall under a lawmaker’s discretion, with no receipts required. However, bicameral conference committee member Rep. Jose Alvarez of Palawan’s 2nd District said the checks posted by Leviste on Facebook were “lawful disbursements” for regular district office operations.

“These are lawful, audited, and well-documented disbursements that every member of the House receives to cover the salaries of legislators and to ensure their district offices can function properly and deliver services on the ground,” Alvarez said.

Leviste raised the issue after questioning the approved P7.8-billion increase in the House MOOE budget, which brought it to P18.58 billion. He said most of the increase went to “other maintenance and operating expenses,” amounting to P4.8 billion, as well as “supplies and materials” and “communication expenses,” each exceeding P1 billion.

Alvarez countered that the House’s 2026 budget of P27 billion is lower than its P34-billion allocation this year, despite a P10-billion increase from the 2026 National Expenditure Program.

Over the past month, Leviste has also alleged that lawmakers inserted at least P150 million each into the Department of Public Works and Highways’ 2025 budget and that some budget allocations were used to secure votes during the ratification of the 2026 budget. These claims were denied by House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson and Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela Suansing.

“I vehemently deny that. I don’t want to speak ill of anyone, especially my colleagues in the House, but there is no truth to that at all,” Suansing said.

“The House leadership does not influence or try to influence any particular congressman, any individual member of Congress to vote in a particular way or incentivize them in any way,” she added.

Puno also denied that allocations for government programs were given as incentives, saying lawmakers are only allowed to recommend projects, with agencies making the final decision.

“There is nothing irregular… Alam mo si Cong. Leviste, I like the fact na he is a young congressman na very active and mukhang looking into every corner. But you have to study a little bit more siguro, kasi hindi naman ‘yung explanation niya ang totoo eh,” Puno said.

Leviste said he raised the allegations after failing to deliver a privilege speech or explain his vote against the ratification of the proposed 2026 national budget, which he claimed included increases that were not debated on the House floor.