TAAL, Batangas — A senior engineer from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was arrested after allegedly attempting to bribe a lawmaker to stop an investigation into irregularities in major infrastructure projects.

Police said Abelardo Calalo, DPWH’s district engineer in Batangas province, was caught in an entrapment operation on Friday, August 22, after offering Congressman Leandro Legarda Leviste ₱3,126,900 in cash.

According to a police report, the alleged bribe was made at around 4:30 p.m. “in an attempt to dissuade [Leviste] from initiating an investigation into alleged anomalies involving DPWH projects within the 1st District of Batangas.”

“Congressman Leviste reported to authorities that resulted in the successful arrest of the suspect,” it added.

Authorities recovered the ₱3.1 million as evidence.

Calalo was taken to the Taal Municipal Police Station for booking and later sent for medical examination at Batangas Provincial Hospital in Lemery. He remains in custody and will face charges for corruption of public officials under the Revised Penal Code, as well as violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Alleged Larger Offer

Rep. Leviste, a first-term lawmaker and businessman, claimed that Calalo was offered as much as ₱360 million in kickbacks to abandon his probe.

He said he would file a case against Calalo before the Batangas Provincial Prosecutor’s Office 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.

Flood Control Works Under Scrutiny

Rep. Leviste has spent recent weeks inspecting roads and flood control works along the Palico, Binambang, and Pansipit rivers. He said recent checks uncovered newly built structures that had collapsed during storms, including the Binambang Riverbank Protection Project in Balayan, which failed in October 2024 during Typhoon Kristine.

According to Leviste, more than ₱1 billion has already been spent on flood control projects in the area, yet many were “poorly built” and vulnerable to damage.

DPWH Response

The case comes as the DPWH faces scrutiny over alleged corruption in infrastructure spending, particularly in flood control projects. Officials have faced accusations of inflating project costs and receiving kickbacks.

The DPWH said Calalo would be relieved of his post and placed under preventive suspension. It called the allegations “deeply concerning” and vowed full cooperation with investigators.

“We fully support the ongoing investigation by the proper authorities and stand firm in our commitment to transparency and integrity in public service,” the department said.

📷 Taal Police, Leandro Legarda Leviste FB