Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineer Abelardo Calalo is now temporarily free after posting a P60,000 bail after he was arrested last week for allegedly trying to bribe Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste.
Calalo posted bail and secured his release on Thursday afternoon, August 28, according to a report released on Friday morning by Batangas Provincial Police Office spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Aleli Buaquen.
Police arrested Calalo in Taal, Batangas on August 22, 2025 during an entrapment operation that stemmed from a complaint filed by Leviste.
Leviste said the DPWH-Batangas district engineer attempted to offer him nearly P3.2-million in an effort to prevent him from starting an investigation into irregular infrastructure projects within his area of authority.
Charges have been brought against the suspect for breaching Republic Act 3019, commonly referred to as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Earlier, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan ordered the suspension of Calalo in connection with the incident.
