Batangas Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste has called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to investigate alleged irregularities and possible bias in the distribution of government financial assistance, following reports that dozens of barangays in his district were excluded from aid activities.
Leviste raised the issue during a press conference, saying his office received reports that at least 84 barangays in Batangas were informed they would not be included in the distribution of financial assistance, allegedly due to intervention by local officials.
The lawmaker also cited claims linking Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto to the alleged exclusion, based on accounts relayed to barangay officials. He said one barangay captain was told by Batangas Liga ng Barangay President Fernando Rocafort that the decision was attributed to the governor.
According to Leviste, the reports suggest that political considerations may have influenced the distribution of public funds, which he said contradicts the program’s intended purpose.
“One barangay captain reported that their exclusion was allegedly explained by Batangas Liga ng Barangay President Fernando Rocafort as being due to Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto, the wife of Executive Secretary Ralph Recto who oversees this program, suggesting that political considerations influence the distribution of public funds, contrary to the stated purpose of the program,” Leviste said in a resolution filed in Congress.
He also told reporters: “Ang sabi sa mga kapitan, nagtatampo daw si Gov. Vilma kaya hindi sila isinali.”
The concern is tied to the national government’s “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” initiative, which provides P200,000 in financial assistance to each barangay for education, social, and economic projects.
President Marcos personally led the distribution of assistance in Batangas as part of the program’s rollout in the province.
However, Leviste said reports that 84 barangays were not invited to the distribution event raise questions about the uniform implementation of the initiative.
He cited earlier statements from Department of Budget and Management Secretary Rolando Toledo, who stressed that the program should be non-political and inclusive.
“Walang pinapaboran at walang iniiwan. Dapat hindi sinusundan ng pondo ng bayan ang politika, dapat sinusundan nito ang pangangailangan ng tao,” Toledo said during an event with the League of Municipalities of the Philippines on March 10.
Leviste said the alleged exclusion runs counter to the principle of equal access to government aid, stressing that public funds should not be influenced by political considerations.
“Mababaw na rason ang nagtatampo, hindi naman pera ng LGU ang pinamimigay, pera ng national, pera ng taong bayan mula sa kanilang buwis,” he said.
The lawmaker urged the provincial government to respond to the allegations and called on Congress to look into the matter to determine whether similar issues are occurring in other parts of the country.