Maria Virginia Sy

Engineer urged to become 'state witness' to expose 'corruption in DPWH system'

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175619943104920250825-dpwh-district-engineer-bribe-2-Edit.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">DPWH-Batangas First District Engineer Abelardo Calalo was arrested Friday in Taal, Batangas for the alleged P3.1-milllion bribe try. <em>File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The DPWH district engineer who allegedly attempted to bribe a lawmaker is being urged to become a &quot;state witness&quot; in the ongoing crackdown into the anomalies surrounding flood control projects in the country. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/26/leviste-files-raps-vs-batangas-engineer-over-alleged-bribe-attempt-1254">Leviste files raps vs Batangas engineer over alleged bribe attempt</a></div><p>&quot;I proposed to engineer Calalo when we crossed paths in the Office of the Provincial Prosecuror that he turn state witness and help us uncover corruption in the DPWH system,&quot;  Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste said Tuesday after filing complaints against the engineer.</p><p>Leviste said Calalo has yet to respond to his offer.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.facebook.com%2Freel%2F798880719332690%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>&quot;Sa ngayon siguro overwhelmed si engineer sa maraming nangyayari so pinagdadasal ko na lang po na di pa man sya nakakapagsalita ay magre-reflect po sya na ito po ay magigihng pubic service nya sa ating bansa,&quot; Leviste said.</div><p>DPWH-Batangas First District Engineer Abelardo Calalo was arrested Friday in Taal, Batangas for the alleged P3.1-milllion bribe try in an attempt to convince Leviste to block the inquiry into the supposed anomalies in the province&#x27;s flood control projects.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;ATTEND SENATE PROBE&#x27;</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, senators want Calalo to be called to the next hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which is investigating anomalous flood control projects.</p><p>“Dapat ipatawag. It’s up to Senator Marcoleta who is the Chair, call niya yun,” Senator Raffy Tulfo said on Tuesday.</p><p>“Dapat makasuhan siya dahil nag-iimbestiga, iniimbestigahan sila sa kanilang kalokohan and then manunuhol sila. Yan naman talaga gawain ng mga karamihan sa mga loko-loko, karamihan sa mga kawatan para makaiwas sila doon sa kaso at kahihiyan, nagba-bribe sila so they have to be investigated,” he added. </p><p>Aside from Calalo, Tulfo suggested inviting everyone whose name has surfaced in connection with the issue, but is leaving it to Blue Ribbon Chair Senator Rodante Marcoleta to decide.</p><p>Asked if the alleged syndicate behind the anomalous flood control projects is widespread, Tulfo said, “I think it’s widespread. Kaya nga sa mga susunod na hearings, Blue Ribbon, ma-identify kung sino yung mga district engineer na kailangan imbestigahan.”  </p><p>Senate Majority Floor Leader Joel Villanueva agreed that Calalo should be made to attend the next hearing and that punishment should be meted if wrongdoing is proven.</p><p>Tulfo and Senator Imee Marcos, meanwhile, praised Leviste for rejecting the bribe and initiating the arrest ot Calalo.</p><p>“Kilala ko siya nung bata pa siya. At congratulations tuwid na tuwid, talaga naman. We need this new breed na kino-call out ang bribery. Tama lang. kasuhan na niya at talagang pursigihin niya nang todo,&quot; Marcos said.</p><p>Leviste is the son of Senator Loren Legarda.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ROTTEN SYSTEM </strong></div><p>Marcos lamented how rotten the system reportedly is and how the DPWH has been dragged into it.</p><p>“Ako ay nanghihinayang kay Secretary Bonoan, sa napakaraming mahuhusay na Usec, RD, DE, huwag nating lahatin. Kailangang kilalanin na talaga yung DPWH ay isa sa mga department ng ating gobyerno na halos lahat CESO, lahat yan qualified…. Kaya lang pinapakialam nang todo-todo ng mga pulitiko talaga naman ang sistema ay bulok at si Bondying maraming pananagutan,” Maros stated.</p><p>Marcos refused to specify who “Bondying” is.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/7/lawmakers-blast-senate-archiving-of-vp-impeachment-imee-s-bonjing-remark-1204">Lawmakers blast Senate archiving of VP impeachment, Imee&#x27;s &#x27;bonjing&#x27; remark</a></div><p>“Maraming Bondying dun, saksakan ng dami ng baby Bondying kapag sinita mo nag-iiyakan,” Marcos said.</p><p>Asked if the certain “Bondying” had a hand in the flood control projects, Marcos answered by referring to questions arising from the budget.</p><p>“Maayos kapag nakita mo ang NEP. Pero daragdagan ng kung ano-anong katarantad*han. Pag yung GAA na yan naging GAB na, masisindak naman kami dito sa Senado yung mga flagship project ni Presidente tanggal na ilalagay sa unprogrammed na ala tsamba samantalang yung mga kalokohan na per district ayan, libo-libo, bilyon-bilyon, umaabot ng trilyon-trilyon. Doon kami nagugulat eh,” she said.</p><p>Marcos has talked to Senate Committee on Finance Chair Sherwin Gatchalian to make the budget process transparent.</p><p>She also said that there are actually worse contracts than those involving flood control projects, such as contracts on road barriers, netting, and street lights.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8wqTwizzbwM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Senators also want the arrested DPWH engineer to be called to the next hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which is investigating anomalous flood control projects.</p>

Senators also want the arrested DPWH engineer to be called to the next hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which is investigating anomalous flood control projects.