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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Batangas solon formally files case vs DPWH district engineer over bribery attempt

Batangas solon formally files case vs DPWH district engineer over bribery attempt

Published Aug 26, 2025 12:19 pm  |  Updated Aug 26, 2025 02:45 pm


Batangas first district Rep. Leandro Leviste filed a formal complaint against a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer for alleged bribery last week at the Hall of Justice in Batangas City on Tuesday, Aug. 26.
Leviste arrived at around 10:30 a.m. while Engineer Abelardo Calalo, the head of Batangas 1st Engineering District Office, arrived earlier at around 9 a.m.
LEVISTE (FB)
LEVISTE (FB)
The neophyte solon filed cases of direct bribery, corruption of public officials, graft and corruption, and violations of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials before the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor against Calalo.
Leviste urged Calalo and other current or former DPWH employees or contractors to become state witnesses to hold beneficiaries from this system of corruption accountable.
Leviste urged Calalo to consider his proposal as he believes that a bigger fish will be caught with the help of witnesses. Calalo did not reply to his proposal.
He said Calalo could be a key to exposing a broader system of corruption within the agency because of his extensive knowledge.
Leviste emphasized that others may bear greater responsibility than the district engineer.
“Because I will never accept kickbacks, I will insist that all projects in the first district of Batangas be executed properly. We will continue auditing all DPWH projects in the district, not just flood control projects, and ensure that any defective work is corrected without additional cost to the government,” Leviste said.
Leviste said in a sworn statement that Calalo explained that contractors were willing to give him five to 10 percent of the P3.6 billion in district projects, equivalent to P180 million to P360 million, to support his educational programs.
DISTRICT Engineer Abelardo Calalo of the DPWH-Batangas 1st Engineering District Office, wearing a bulletproof vest and escorted by Taal police, arrives at the Hall of Justice in Batangas City for inquest proceedings regarding the bribery complaint filed by Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste. (Taal police photo)    
DISTRICT Engineer Abelardo Calalo of the DPWH-Batangas 1st Engineering District Office, wearing a bulletproof vest and escorted by Taal police, arrives at the Hall of Justice in Batangas City for inquest proceedings regarding the bribery complaint filed by Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste. (Taal police photo)    
Leviste said one contractor was prepared to withdraw an initial P15 million while the P3.1 million presented by Calalo represented three percent of a P104-million project, with receipts included in the cash provided.
Leviste revealed alleged irregularities in project awards in the first district – bidding processes were not genuinely conducted, with contractors allegedly pre-selected by the congressman and giving SOPs.
Calalo named several of the largest contractors in the district and their links to previous officeholders.
"This goes beyond a P3.1-million bribe, but rather up to over P300 million annually of SOPs or kickbacks from DPWH projects reserved for a congressman of the first district of Batangas," Leviste said.
"If I had agreed, meetings with contractors would have taken place this week, potentially generating hundreds of millions of pesos in kickbacks from 2025 projects. Over three years, the total kickbacks reserved for a congressman of a first district of Batangas could exceed P1 billion," Leviste added.
Calalo was temporarily detained at the Taal police detention facility and was escorted by personnel from the Taal Municipal Police Station, wearing a bulletproof vest, when he arrived.
Leviste's complaint stemmed from an alleged P3-million bribery attempt to stop him from investigating flood control irregularities in the towns of his district.
Calalo was caught in an entrapment operation on Aug. 22 at the district office of Leviste while delivering the bribe money.

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DPWH Bribery District engineer Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste
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