Ched Rick Gatchalian

Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste said his office will file a case against the DPWH district engineer at the Office of the Batangas Provincial Prosecutor on Tuesday, August 26, 2025.

 

Article (news)

Some contractors, congressmen allegedly involved in corruption can 'retaliate' vs whistleblowers amid DPWH crackdown: Rep. Leviste

Dennis Datu

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste is urging district engineer Abelardo Calalo — who allegedly attempted to bribe him to block probe into flood control projects in his area — to become a state witness. Leviste said Calalo should reveal the &quot;main culprits&quot; behind the alleged corruption in the government&#x27;s flood control programs.Calalo was arrested in an entrapment operation last Friday and he is now facing a string of charges which include allegations of direct bribery, corruption of public officials, violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/24/leviste-to-file-case-vs-dpwh-batangas-1st-district-engineer-0711">Leviste to file case vs DPWH Batangas 1st District engineer</a></div>Authorities recovered from him the P3.1 million that he allegedly tried to offer to the neophyte congressman.But in an interview on DZMM, Leviste said he feels pity for Calalo as the latter is not &quot;more guilty&quot; than other Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineers.&quot;Siya po ay long-time DPWH employee. Sinasabi ko nga na hindi siya pinaka-guilty rito. Pwede siya maging state witness na magbigay ng mas malalim pang impormasyon leading to those who are more guilty,&quot; he said, asking for a developed whistleblower program to protect witnesses.&quot;Sana more than just one incident of engineer offering a bribe, the overall system of how projects are bid and implemented can be unraveled as more district engineers can hopefully given some witness protection,&quot; he explained.Leviste acknowledged that sharing more details about the alleged corruption involving DPWH, some influential contractors and even congressmen can be dangerous.&quot;Some of these very influential contractors or congressmen can retaliate on those that blow the whistle,&quot; he emphasized.He said he sees that Calalo would struggle helping to fight against corruption since big contractors and powerful legislators may retaliate, if the government does not have enough protection for witnesses.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/20/coa-commissioner-s-contractor-wife-gets-nearly-p200-m-in-dpwh-flood-control-projects-gov-t-data-1648">COA commissioner’s contractor-wife gets nearly P200-M in DPWH flood control projects: gov’t data</a></div>Leviste said Calalo revealed to him that an influential person designed a project for their district — subject to DPWH&#x27;s approval — and funded the project, as well as served as its contractor.Leviste stressed they are still auditing the flood control projects in the first district and the local government already stated the design for the project Calalo mentioned to him was &quot;wrong.&quot;<div>NO ACTUAL BIDDING</div>In his sworn statement submitted to the prosecutor, Leviste said Calalo detailed the system of awarding DPWH projects, where a congressman allegedly selects contractors.“Hindi nagkakaroon ng tunay na bidding sa DPWH projects  sa unang distrio ng Batangas, pinipili  lang daw ng congressman ang contractor  na nagbibigay ng SOP, pinangalan din ni DE ang malalaking contractor sa first district ng Batangas  kung sino ang mga taong nagpasok at pumipili  sa kanila para manalo sa bidding  noong panahon ng dating kongresista,” Leviste narrated.On the same DZMM interview, Leviste said some flood control projects that have substandard materials in other regions were not from the National Expenditure Program but were allegedly &quot;inserted&quot; by an influential contractor.&quot;&#x27;Yung [project] sa ibang probinsya ay actually hindi nanggaling sa NEP ang project na &#x27;yon, &#x27;yon po ay pinasok ng isang influential na contractor. Kahit po sa aking distrito may ganoong proyekto. Ang ginagawa po ng administration ay bawasan &#x27;yon,&quot; he stressed.He said an unnamed congressman pulls the strings and decides who wins the contract without actual bidding.&quot;Ang masasabi ko po ay hindi naman yung mag contractor ang main culprit. Ang mga DPWH district engineers ay essential kasi sila &#x27;yung mga gumagawa ng mga biddings, sila po ay close coordination sa ibang mga distrito or cases, at ang mga nangyayari raw ay walang tunay na bidding. Ang mga contratista ay nagcocollude at ang congressman ay namimili sino ang winning bidder na siya po raw ay nagbibigay ng SOP,&quot; Leviste said.Leviste is still refusing to name the lawmakers he said he knew were behind the supposed corrupt practices, as they have the ability to retaliate.&quot;Kaya ko po sila hindi pinapangalanan...&quot; he said.But he hopes district engineers like Calalo can come forward to be star witnesses, as he knows the process of how projects are awarded in their district in Batangas.&quot;Ang maganda po ngayon dahil sa SONA ni [President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.], ang pag-investigate sa projects, kahit may tatamaang kakampi sa pulitika ay being widely done na ngayon,&quot; he said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/28/-mahiya-naman-kayo-marcos-order-probe-on-corruption-in-flood-control-projects-1725">&#x27;Mahiya naman kayo&#x27;: Marcos orders probe on possible corruption in flood control projects</a></div>Leviste added he hopes the DPWH&#x27;s budget will be reduced next year.&quot;Sana po ang resulta nito ay less corruption in the upcoming DPWH projects. And I would also hope reduction in the budget that is allocated,&quot; he stressed.Asked if he had received any threat to stop his expose so far, he said: &quot;Hindi po, baka kasi isipin nila susumbungin ko rin sila.&quot;&quot;I have to credit the administration for making it politically popular and acceptable to take a stand like this. Because if the President himself is making an investigation in those substandard DPWH projects, then wala pong congressmen na mago-oppose sa ganitong measures,&quot; he added.

Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste is urging district engineer Abelardo Calalo — who allegedly attempted to bribe him to block probe into flood control projects in his area — to become a state witness.

Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste is urging district engineer Abelardo Calalo — who allegedly attempted to bribe him to block probe into flood control projects in his area — to become a state witness.

Leviste: Contractors, congressmen tagged in DPWH corruption may retaliate vs whistleblowers

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Leviste: Contractors, congressmen tagged in DPWH corruption may retaliate vs whistleblowers

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 26, 2025 08:01 PM PHT

|

Updated August 26, 2025 11:32 PM PHT

Read More:

Flood control projects

Contractors

Congressmen

Corruption

DPWH

Department of Public Works and Highways

Leandro Leviste

Batangas

Abelardo Calalo

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