Leviste Calls for Probe of Bicol Contractor, Cites Party-list Budget Insertions

Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste

Leviste Calls for Probe of Bicol Contractor, Cites Party-list Budget Insertions

By Wilma N. Yamzon & Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.Com | December 23, 2025

MANILA, Philippines – Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Legarda Leviste is escalating scrutiny of infrastructure projects in the Bicol region.

Leviste filed a resolution on Tuesday calling for a House investigation into contracts awarded to Bicol Goldrock Construction, GCI Construction, and other companies owned by Steve and Gigi Ibasco.

The resolution will examine alleged budget insertions by the Bicol Saro Party-list and its potential connection to Ibasco companies.

Leviste is further demanding that Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon resign from his position as chair of the House Committee on Public Accounts to ensure an impartial investigation.

According to DPWH records cited by Leviste, the Ibasco companies have secured over ₱42.3 billion in contracts within the Bicol region and an additional ₱4.6 billion in Batangas’ 1st District.

A Senate Finance Committee presentation reportedly identified Ibasco’s GCI as the leading contractor for the Department of Agriculture’s farm-to-market road projects in 2024.

“GCI/Bicol Goldrock are, in fact, the top DPWH contractor in my district,” Leviste stated.

“They are also the top contractor in Congressman Ridon’s province of Camarines Sur and have reportedly constructed some of the most overpriced and substandard roads in the country. I thank Congressman Ridon for bringing attention to the Ibasco family’s projects.”

Leviste further alleged that files from the late DPWH Undersecretary revealed the Ibasco companies’ projects were included in the “CENTI2025” list, suspected to be “parked funds” or “pre-ordered” by contractors.

He claims that of the ₱954.9 million allocated to his district within the list, ₱440.6 million went to Ibasco companies.

The controversy ignited on Dec. 22 when Leviste alleged that Bicol Saro Party-list proposed ₱150 million in projects within the 2025 DPWH budget – specifically, two ₱75 million roads connecting Veneracion, Pamplona, to Odicon, Pasacao, in Camarines Sur.

He claims both contracts were awarded to Bicol Goldrock for ₱73.5 million each, just 2% below the approved budget.

Ridon, who assumed his congressional seat on June 30, 2025, vehemently denied the allegations.

“How would I be able to make insertions to the 2025 budget if I was not yet a congressman when this budget was crafted in 2024, under the 19th Congress?” he countered.

Leviste responded, clarifying that the alleged insertions were made by the Bicol Saro Party-list, active during the 19th Congress.

He challenged Ridon to verify the claim with his party-list, emphasizing that Ridon was already a member of Bicol Saro at the time.

“Media should not allow Ridon to evade the allegation by saying it’s his party-list and not his,” Leviste said.

“We can get to the bottom of this if he convenes a public accounts hearing.”

Leviste urges his colleagues to remove Ridon as chair of the House Committee on Public Accounts to ensure an impartial investigation into the Ibasco companies and the alleged budget insertions.

“Congressman Ridon shouldn’t hide Bicol Saro Party-list’s insertions, whether for 2025 or 2026, if his party-list truly has no relationship with the Ibasco family, who own Bicol Goldrock and won the projects they proposed.”

The accusations and counter-accusations have set the stage for a potentially explosive investigation into infrastructure projects and political influence in the Bicol region.

The outcome could have significant repercussions for both the contractors involved and the political figures implicated.