The rank-and-file employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said on Monday they fully support measures to address allegations of corruption among senior officials and district engineers involved in anomalous and fraudulent activities in the agency.
This developed following the arrest of Abelardo Calalo, the engineer for Batangas’ 1st district, who allegedly tried to bribe Batangas Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste with over P3-million in kickbacks to dissuade him from investigating DPWH projects in the region.
In a statement, the DPWH said the recent allegations involving a district engineer assigned in Batangas are deeply concerning and are being taken very seriously.
“As public servants, we at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) do not condone any form of misconduct,” the agency said.
According to reports, Calalo was apprehended and held on Friday, August 22, in Taal, Batangas for purportedly attempting to bribe Leviste, a newly elected lawmaker.
The district engineer allegedly offered Leviste P3,126,900 in an effort to persuade him to refrain from probing DPWH projects within his district.
Calalo is currently in the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Taal and may be charged with Corruption of Public Officials as outlined in Article 212 of the Revised Penal Code, as well as a violation of Republic Act 3019, known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
“We fully support the ongoing investigation by the proper authorities and stand firm in our commitment to transparency and integrity in public service,” the DPWH added.
DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the individual involved will be relieved of his assignment, and preventive suspension will be implemented.
“We firmly believe that those found to have engaged in any wrongdoing must face the full consequences of their actions in accordance with the law,” Bonoan said.
