Cheyenne Suarez

'He's on his own': DPWH chief washes hands off engineer who bribed lawmaker

The head of DPWH will give no guidance to embattled Batangas first district engineer Abelardo Calalo if he will turn state witness after he was arrested for supposedly trying to bribe Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste last week.

Article (news)

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

&quot;He is on his own.&quot;The head of the Department of Public Works and Highways on Thursday said he will give no guidance to embattled DPWH-Batangas first district engineer Abelardo Calalo if he will <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/26/engineer-urged-to-become-state-witness-to-expose-corruption-in-dpwh-system-1504">turn state witness</a> after he was arrested for supposedly trying to bribe Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste last week.Speaking to DZMM, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said he has not spoken Calalo after his arrest, adding that the alleged bribe try brought shame to the department. &quot;It is up to him. Pinasukan niya kasi ito, ‘yung mga ganitong gulo…It is his decision...He’s on his own. I don’t want to provide any suggestions or anything to him. Unang-una hindi ko maintindihin kung bakit ganun ang inasal ng engineer na &#x27;yan. So sad actually,&quot; he said.&quot;Nabahiran na naman ang image ng DPWH because of his action,&quot; he added.Calalo was arrested Friday in Taal, Batangas for an 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.Leviste earlier said Calalo revealed to him that an <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/26/leviste-contractors-congressmen-tagged-in-dpwh-corruption-may-retaliate-vs-whistleblowers-2001">influential person designed a project</a> for their district — subject to DPWH&#x27;s approval — and funded the project, as well as served as its contractor.In the interview, the DPWH chief said he has already placed Calalo under preventive suspension and will investigate if the engineer had accomplices in the district. &quot;Sa tingin ko, may sabwat siya doon siguro sa Batangas district engineering,&quot; he said.He added he is open to reassigning officials in his department if they are receiving unwarranted pressure. &quot;Kung ikaw ay nagagamit lang at ikaw ay na-pe-pressure, let me know para ako naman ang maglalagay ng adjustment o solution,&quot; he said.Bonoan also backed immediate lifestyle checks of people in his department but said some of these officials should be given the benefit of the doubt.“We have to give them also the benefit of the doubt. Matagal na naman sila nagsisilbi sa department. Kung papaano sila nakaipon, I think we have to give them the benefit of the doubt,” he said.“Mabuti na rin po ‘yung lifestyle checks na ginagawa po hindi po sa loob ng agency para makita po at open naman po ang gagawin na lifestyle check.”He again rejected calls to step down from his post, saying he abhors corruption in the department.At least 15 DPWH personnel have been placed under preventive suspension or on floating status after Malacanang received thousands of complaints over <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/22/-not-an-isolated-case-lacson-scoffs-at-dpwh-s-excuse-over-ghost-flood-control-projects-1845">anomalous flood control projects</a>.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier ordered lifestyle checks on all government officials -starting with the DPWH - amid complaints of massive corruption in the government’s flood control program.Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the probe could look into reports of government contractors and officials owning luxury cars and other assets.

The head of DPWH will give no guidance to embattled Batangas first district engineer Abelardo Calalo if he will turn state witness after he was arrested for supposedly trying to bribe Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste last week.

'He's on his own': DPWH chief washes hands of engineer who bribed lawmaker

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Nation

'He's on his own': DPWH chief washes hands of engineer who bribed lawmaker

David Dizon,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 28, 2025 10:42 AM PHT

|

Updated Aug 28, 2025 04:10 PM PHT

Read More:

dpwh

manuel bonoan

bulacan

flood control

batangas

lifestyle check

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.