MANILA, Philippines — Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing on Monday denied Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste’s claim that members of the House of Representatives received a P2-million Christmas bonus, saying in an interview with reporters at the House that there was “no truth” to the allegation and that she did not want to speak ill of her colleagues.
Suansing, who chairs the House Committee on Appropriations, said she rejected in categorical terms the assertion that lawmakers got an additional P2 million each as a bonus this month.
She said she based her denial on her knowledge of the House’s appropriations and on the official compensation and benefits structure for members of the chamber.
She said she issued the clarification after Leviste mentioned the alleged bonus in a recent television interview.
In that interview, Leviste said each House member supposedly received a P2-million bonus this month.
Leviste said he learned about the alleged P2-million bonus from his own experience and from reports that he said he heard from some of his colleagues.
He said in the interview that the amount he cited referred to what he described as a bonus given per congressman.
He did not specify in the interview the exact date when the alleged bonus was released.