Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has commended Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Legarda Leviste for leading an entrapment operation that resulted in the arrest of a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer allegedly attempting to bribe him with up to ₱360 million in kickbacks tied to infrastructure projects.
“My snappy salute to neophyte Cong. Leandro Leviste, Batangas 1st District, for the successful police entrapment operation against a corrupt DPWH District Engineer who tried to bribe him with up to ₱360 million in ‘kickbacks’ from infra projects in his district. May his tribe increase,” Lacson said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The arrested official was identified as DPWH Batangas 1st District Engineer Abelardo Calalo, who was caught during a police entrapment in Barangay Poblacion, Taal, Batangas, last Friday.
Initial reports showed that Calalo attempted to hand over ₱3,126,900 to Leviste in exchange for dropping an investigation into questionable DPWH projects in the district.
Leviste confirmed the entrapment on Monday, August 25, and vowed to file a formal complaint against Calalo before the Office of the Batangas Provincial Prosecutor on Tuesday, August 26.
The embattled DPWH official remains in police custody and faces possible charges of Corruption of Public Officials under Article 212 of the Revised Penal Code and violations of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
In a statement, Leviste underscored the need to pursue broader reforms in the department:
“We should not tolerate any corruption in DPWH. We should demand projects at better quality and lower cost, and obligate contractors to correct any deficiencies immediately without additional cost to government. Beyond this case, we will push for broader reforms to address systemic problems of DPWH.”
Meanwhile, according to DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, the district engineer will be relieved of his post and placed under preventive suspension following the controversial allegation.
"As public servants, we at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) do not condone any form of misconduct. We fully support the ongoing investigation by the proper authorities and stand firm in our commitment to transparency and integrity in public service," said Bonoan.
Lacson’s commendation comes after he earlier warned of pervasive corruption and entrenched kickback systems in flood control projects, which he detailed in a Senate privilege speech.
