Jonathan Frederic De Santos

The House of Representatives lights up its Christmas tree in a ceremony led by Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III and fellow lawmakers on Dec. 1, 2025

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<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zasBsgYUU98?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>MANILA — The P2-million “bonus” that he alleges some House members received and that some lawmakers have said was meant for operating expenses is not necessarily wrong, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste said, but the money should be accounted for.Leviste’s allegation of a supposed Christman bonus for some House members has been labeled as unfair and as a “misrepresentation of funding for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses for his colleagues’ offices.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/2/-unfair-misrepresentation-more-house-members-reject-leviste-s-allegation-of-p2-m-christmas-bonus-1953">‘Unfair, misrepresentation’: More House members reject Leviste’s allegation of P2-M Christmas bonus</a></div>“Wala naman po akong sinasabi na ibinibigay lang kung ikaw ay bumoboto para sa budget, nagkataon lang sabay siya sa botohon sa budget,” he told DZMM’s ‘Anong Ganap?’ on Saturday morning.(I am not saying the funding was given only to those who voted for the budget, it just happened that distribution happened during voting)He said distribution was done in one of the committee rooms at the House.“Hindi ko naman po sinasabi na mali ito, mula sa simula ang sinasabi ko hindi naman tanggalin ito. Dapat lang isapubliko magkano pati para sa mga kongresista,” he said, adding unnamed colleagues were asking why their offices didn’t get the supposed funding.(I am not saying it is wrong. From the start, I didn’t say it sohuld be removed. But the amounts should be made public also for the benefit of House members)Leviste said that some House members may have received as much as P4 million in extra funds.He said that even if the Commission on Audit will not require receipts to liquidate the funds, there is nothing stopping lawmakers from accounting for them even just on social media.Lanao Del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Friday stressed lawmakers need the MOOE that Leviste has been calling a bonus.“So, I don&#x27;t know how he ran his district office. If he does not want the MOOE and if he does not want to run his district office because I believe he&#x27;s a billionaire, he does not need that kind of money, so be it,” he said.House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Mikaela Suansing of Nueva Ecija has “vehemently” denied Leviste’s claims.“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 has also said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/29/leviste-claims-some-congressmen-received-p2-m-christmas-bonus-1849">Leviste claims some congressmen received P2-M &#x27;Christmas bonus&#x27;; House leaders deny </a></div>House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno of Antipolo City has also said that the money was not a &quot;bonus&quot; but was meant as &quot;additional funding for your Christmas requirements in your district&quot; like parties for barangay officials, outreach activities and consultations with constituents.ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio meanwhile made it clear that he neither received the supposed bonus nor did it influence his vote on the budget bill — members of the Makabayan bloc voted against it.“Most definitely ang boto natin ay hindi naimpluwensiyahan ng anumang mga incentives or pressure,” Tinio told the media.(Most definitely, our vote will not be influenced by incentives or pressure)

The P2-million “bonus” that he alleges some House members received and that some lawmakers have said was meant for operating expenses is not necessarily wrong, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste said, but the money should be accounted for.

The P2-million “bonus” that he alleges some House members received and that some lawmakers have said was meant for operating expenses is not necessarily wrong, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste said, but the money should be accounted for.

Leviste: Lawmakers' 'Christmas bonus' not necessarily wrong but must be accounted for

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Leviste: Lawmakers' 'Christmas bonus' not necessarily wrong but must be accounted for

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 03, 2026 01:24 PM PHT

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Leandro Leviste

House of Representatives

National budget

2026 national budget

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