Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Neophyte Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste has linked his predecessor, former congressman Eric Buhain, to the alleged “rigged” bidding of government flood control and infrastructure projects in their district. </p><p>Leviste said the <a href="http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/news/regions/2025/8/24/dpwh-district-engineer-arrested-for-allegedly-trying-to-bribe-batangas-solon-2153">DPWH district engineer</a>, who was arrested for allegedly attempting to bribe him, told him that the former congressman used to select the winning bidders for DPWH projects. </p><p>“Ito po ay kinwento sa akin ni DE (district engineer) na standard operating procedure po talaga. Ang pumipili sa mga contractors ng DPWH project sa First District ng Batangas daw ay ‘yung dating congressman,” the Batangas solon said.</p><p>“Minsan po, sinasabi daw na itong proyekto ay para sa contractor na ito. Minsan naman daw po, ang DPWH ay nag-advertise lang ng bidding at ‘yung mga contractors na nananalo ay mukhang nag-usap sino ‘yung mag-bid,” Leviste said.  </p><p>“Dahil hindi daw nagkakaroon ng ‘tunay na bidding.’ Ang tawag na po sa amin sa First District ng Batangas ay ‘bidding-biddingan’ lang. Dahil pag makita natin ‘yung approved budget ng mga project, hindi naman po siya malaking ibinababa from the approved budget. Sinasagad talaga as close as possible to the ceiling price, dahil alam naman po ng mga bidders na ‘yung pinili lang ni congressman ang mananalo sa bidding na ito,” he added.</p><p>He said that based on the information he received, the former congressman’s kickbacks from DPWH infra projects ranged from 10 percent to 20 percent of the project cost. Meanwhile, all contractors that participated in the bidding supposedly received a “share”.</p><p>“Para sa horizontal projects, umaabot [ang share] ng 15 to 20 percent at para sa mga vertical projects, katulad ng mga classroom, ay mga 10 percent,” Leviste alleged.</p><p>“Baka ‘yan din po ang isang dahilan na malaking porsyento ng ating budget ay sa mga horizontal projects, katulad ng mga roads at flood control, kasi ‘yun daw po ang mga mas mahirap na i-audit, dahil di mo makita yung mga substandard na materyales sa mga horizontal projects. Kaya mas malaki po ang porsyento na nakukuha ng tao na nasa likod ng mga proyekto nito pag horizontal project po siya,” he added. </p><p>Buhain has yet to respond to ABS-CBN News’ request for comment as of this posting. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ALLEGED BRIBERY TRY </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Leviste believes these contractors are part of the attempt to bribe him to stop his investigation into alleged substandard flood control projects in his district.</p><p>“‘Yung pera ay may resibo, at ‘yung resibo ay may tatlong proyektong nasa halaga ng P104 million na galing sa contractor. Pero ‘yung mga contractor na ‘yun daw ay ang narinig ko, pinili ng dating congressman,” he said.</p><p>“Because the former congressman of the First District of Batangas, didn&#x27;t sign the awards of the contractors… then it&#x27;s the ones, who are on paper liable for it, who have the motivation for the investigations to stop at this stage,” Leviste said.</p><p>“But if those people who are on paper liable for it, meaning the contractors, are interviewed, perhaps pwede po nilang ituro sino talaga ang responsable sa mga ginawa nila,” he noted.</p><p>On Tuesday, Leviste filed before the Batangas Provincial Prosecutor’s Office complaints for direct bribery, corruption of public officials, graft, and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials against the district engineer, who allegedly attempted to bribe him to block his probe. </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>He urged the district engineer to turn into a state witness and expose the bigger people behind him.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/28/-he-s-on-his-own-dpwh-chief-washes-hands-off-engineer-who-bribed-lawmaker-1042">&#x27;He&#x27;s on his own&#x27;: DPWH chief washes hands off engineer who bribed lawmaker</a></div><p>Leviste and Buhain may be invited to the House Infrastructure Committee hearing on flood projects, its co-chairperson Rep. Terry Ridon said. </p><p>“We’d like to get more information from Congressman Leviste, and siyempre from the district engineer involved. And most definitely we can invite former congressman Eric Buhain to shed light kasi siyempre mahirap naman ho na si Congressman Leviste lang po ‘yung nagsasalita dito, at hindi po mapagbigyan ng pagkakataon si former congressman Buhain na idepensa naman din po ang kanyang sarili,” he said. </p><p>The committee may also invite Mayor Benjamin “Benjie” Magalong, who  alleged that some lawmakers pocket 30 to 40 percent in kickbacks for infrastructure projects.</p><p>&quot;We can invite Mayor Magalong, provided that he discloses the names of legislators supposedly involved in corrupt activities,” Ridon said. </p><div><strong>— With a report from Agatha Gregorio, ABS-CBN News </strong></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Neophyte Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste has linked his predecessor, former congressman Eric Buhain, to the alleged “rigged” bidding of government flood control and infrastructure projects in their district.</p>

Neophyte Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste has linked his predecessor, former congressman Eric Buhain, to the alleged “rigged” bidding of government flood control and infrastructure projects in their district.

‘Bidding-biddingan: Leviste says ex-Batangas solon ‘selected’ winning bidders for DPWH projects

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‘Bidding-biddingan: Leviste says ex-Batangas solon ‘selected’ winning bidders for DPWH projects

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 28, 2025 03:19 PM PHT

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Updated August 28, 2025 05:05 PM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

Batangas

DPWH

infrastructure

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