Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste confirmed on Monday he will file a case against a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer, who attempted to bribe him in exchange for stopping the House of Representatives’ probe on anomalous flood control projects.
In a statement released by his office, Leviste named DPWH-Batangas 1st District Engineer Abelardo Calalo as the subject of his complaint. The neophyte lawmaker said he will file a formal charge at the Office of the Batangas Provincial Prosecutor on Tuesday, August 26.
“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,” Leviste said.
“Beyond this case, we will push for broader reforms to address systemic problems of DPWH,” he added.
Calalo—identified in media reports as ‘Abe’—has been arrested for allegedly trying to bribe Leviste in connection with the planned probe by the House of Representatives into the DPWH’s messy flood control projects.
He is now under the custody of Taal Municipal Police Station, according to a report by GMA News.
