SUSPENDED Batangas 1st District Engineer Abelardo Calalo of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has denied the graft and corruption charges filed against him by Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste, claiming the case is politically motivated.
In his counter-affidavit filed last Friday, Calalo described the allegations as a “twisting of truth” and suggested that Leviste was pursuing a political agenda. He said he had only started working in the Batangas 1st District Engineering Office in 2024 and first met Leviste in December that year.
Following the May 2025 elections, Calalo claimed to have attended a meeting with Leviste, Senator Loren Legarda, and Uswag Party-list Rep. Jojo Ang to discuss the proposed 2026 budget. According to Calalo, Legarda told him to “take care” of her projects in the district, alongside Ang.
Calalo said Ang instructed him on May 28, 2025, to solicit “donations” from DPWH contractors to show support for Leviste’s projects. On July 31, Calalo claimed Leviste sent staff to his office, where they allegedly searched through project documents, took photos, and demanded files without formal authority—an act he described as a “witch-hunt.”
He further alleged that on August 5, Ang reiterated the push for contractor donations, describing them as mere shows of support and not bribes. Calalo noted that Ang mentioned returning the donations if Leviste disapproved, citing the congressman’s billionaire status.
On August 14, Calalo said Leviste personally visited his office, demanding information about contractors linked to former congressman Eric Buhain, whom Calalo denied having ties with. A week later, Ang allegedly followed up on the contractor donations, prompting a meeting between Calalo and Leviste on August 22.
During that meeting, Calalo claimed Leviste pressed for names of contractors and speculated how much money could be raised—mentioning figures up to P360 million based on a 10% cut. Calalo said Leviste then asked him to bring the money, and after going downstairs to retrieve it from his car, police arrived and arrested him.
Calalo insisted the money was intended for Leviste’s projects and was never received by the congressman. “I vehemently deny that I had tried to offer money to Cong. Leviste in exchange for any favor,” he said, calling the incident an “instigation” rather than an entrapment.
He also criticized Leviste’s approach, stating, “Ordinary individuals should not be reduced to dispensable instruments to serve a political cause.”
Leviste’s version
In a Facebook post, Leviste revealed that the money Calalo brought came with receipts from three contracts totaling P104.2 million, with a handwritten note indicating a “3%” amounting to over P3.1 million.
Leviste also claimed Calalo had previously named other contractors willing to contribute and questioned why he left that out of his affidavit. He urged Calalo to disclose how contractors are chosen and who else was involved.
Leviste concluded, “He admits collecting money from contractors to give to me, claiming it was a donation—but the money came with receipts.”.| – Balikas.net
