00:00Senate President Pro Temporary Panfilo Laxon cast doubt on Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste's claim.
00:06The list he received from Erswald DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral had all senators of the 20th Congress with insertions in the 2025 National Expenditures Program.
00:18A total anti-pork barrel advocate, Senator Laxon advised Leviste to vet his claim and check the 19th Congress' insertions
00:26since the senators of the 20th Congress are not likely to have participated in the formulation of the NEP.
00:33Our Luisa Erispe has more.
00:37Senate President Pro Temporary Panfilo Laxon is seeking clarification from Rep. Leandro Leviste
00:43regarding the list allegedly left by the late DPWH Usec Maria Catalina Cabral,
00:49which contains the names of those allegedly involved in budget insertions.
00:53According to Laxon, he believes that senators of the 20th Congress are not included,
00:59rather, only those in the 19th Congress.
01:02Because if the 120 billion insertions referred to by Leviste are in the 2025 budget,
01:10these were reportedly approved during the previous Congress
01:13and do not include the newly elected senators from the 2025 midterm elections.
01:18Laxon also clarified it is impossible for his own name to be on the list
01:24because even during past Congresses, he never participated in any allocables or pork barrel.
01:30Laxon also believes there is a right time and place to release the list of names,
01:36which might not be now because Cabral's family is still mourning her death.
01:40However, he still praised Leviste for his efforts in securing the documents possibly left by Cabral.
01:47Meanwhile, Senate President Vicente Soto III is leaving the matter of Cabral files to Senator Laxon.
01:54Soto previously stated that for him, if the list truly exists,
02:06care must be taken to ensure there are no additions or deletions to the names.
02:11Meanwhile, Laxon believes that those detained at the Senate regarding flood control projects
02:17should still spend Christmas in jail.
02:19These are Curly Descaya, Henry Alcantara, Bryce Hernandez, and J.P. Mendoza.
02:25They were cited in contempt by the Blue Ribbon Committee in recent months.
02:30According to Laxon, there is no other reason but security,
02:33as they might escape while there is no warrant of arrest if they are released this Christmas.
02:39They will, however, be allowed to attend Mass and be visited by their families.
02:44Senate President Soto also previously stated that the four will spend Christmas in jail
02:49and that the Senate has the power not to release them until the Blue Ribbon Committee investigation or the 20th Congress ends.
02:58Luisa Erispe from the National TV Network for a New and Better Philippines.
