Several companies linked to Construction Workers Solidarity (CWS) Partylist Rep. Edwin Gardiola once again came under the spotlight after Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste released a list of contractors that reportedly received billions of pesos worth of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects.
Among those named was Newington Builders Inc., which topped Leviste’s list of “Top Contractors from the P161-billion DPWH projects,” with contracts totaling P6.59 billion. Reports have identified Newington Builders as a company owned by Gardiola, who has repeatedly denied any involvement in irregularities related to flood control projects.
Data from the DPWH’s Project and Contract Management database showed that Newington Builders had won multiple multimillion-peso contracts nationwide, including flood control works and road and bridge construction.
Gardiola was also linked to S-Ang Construction and General Trading Inc., which was second on Leviste’s list with P6.2 billion worth of projects. The company is reportedly managed by Gardiola’s wife and children. Another firm, JSG Construction, is allegedly named after his wife, Judy Silva Gardiola.
Beyond the general list, in a Facebook post Leviste focused specifically on Gardiola. The post included 11 pages of documents that Leviste said were unverified but which allegedly showed DPWH projects awarded to companies connected to Gardiola totaling P22 billion from 2023 to 2025.
“I am only sharing this document that was sent to me, and I have not verified it,” Leviste said.
“However, based on my research, these projects exist and are real, and many of them were awarded to companies associated with CWS Partylist Representative Edwin Gardiola, including — but not limited to — companies owned or connected to his family.”
The documents reportedly included projects funded through Unprogrammed Appropriations, the National Expenditure Program, and Bicameral Conference Committee adjustments.
At the same time, Leviste stressed that he was not accusing any lawmaker of corruption, and apologized to his colleagues who may have been affected by his disclosures.
He said his move was part of a broader effort to bring transparency to the budget process. Since 24 December 2025, Leviste has been posting hundreds of DPWH budget documents online, including details on so-called “allocables,” or the amounts that district lawmakers can earmark annually.
He has also openly criticized what he described as “insertions” in the national budget — a practice long associated with allegedly anomalous infrastructure projects, particularly flood control works.
During a recent press briefing, Leviste shared advice from his mother, Senator Loren Legarda, who urged him to avoid political fights.
“My mother told me not to get into fights, but I just want to clarify that I’m not an enemy of the administration,” he said. “I simply respond whenever my name is mentioned.”
Leviste noted that Senator Legarda was with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the inauguration of the Antique Airport earlier this week, which he said underscored her reminder for caution.
“But I told her I’m only defending myself when my name is dragged into the issue,” he said.