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DPWH district engineer arrested for attempting to bribe Batangas solon with P3 M

Philippines | Luzon

DPWH district engineer arrested for attempting to bribe Batangas solon with P3 M

By Danny Estacio

Police arrested a Department of Public Works and Highways district engineer for allegedly attempting to bribe Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste with P3 million to stop him from investigating anomalous projects.

LEVISTE (FB)

The suspect was identified as Abelardo Calalo, 51, district engineer of the DPWH-Batangas 1st Engineering District Office.

The Police Regional Office 4-A said the suspect was apprehended on Friday in Taal town, Batangas during an entrapment operation.

The suspect allegedly offered Leviste P3,126,900 to dissuade him from initiating an investigation into alleged anomalies involving DPWH projects within the first district of Batangas, police said.

Leviste reported the incident to the Taal police who mapped out the operation led by Police Capt. Rommel Magno, officer-in-charge, that resulted in the arrest of the suspect.

Recovered from the suspect was the bribe money.

The suspect is under the custody of the Taal Municipal Police Station for proper disposition.

He was taken to a hospital for physical and medical examination.

THE suspect (left) with the bribe money on the table.(Photo via Danny Estacio)

THE suspect (left) with the bribe money on the table.(Photo via Danny Estacio)

The suspect faces appropriate cases before the Batangas Provincial Prosecutor's Office.

Leviste confirmed that a case against the suspect is planned to be filed before the Office of the Batangas Provincial Prosecutor on Tuesday, Aug. 26.

"We should not tolerate any corruption in DPWH. We should demand projects at better quality and lower cost, and obligate contractors to correct any deficiencies immediately without additional cost to government. Beyond this case, we will push for broader reforms to address systemic problems of DPWH," Leviste said in a Facebook statement.

Related Tags

DPWH Batangas District engineer Rep. Leandro Leviste Bribery Corruption

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