‘Big fish’ in Batangas: former lawmaker Buhain named in bribery case

National

FORMER lawmaker and Olympian swimmer champ Eric Buhain has been named by his successor, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste, as the alleged “big fish” in a bribery case.

“The big fish really here is the district congressman,” Leviste said in an interview with Bilyonaryo News Channel on Wednesday, which was quoted in a Philstar report.

The first-term Batangas lawmaker explained that the district engineer, who was arrested in an entrapment operation, had implicated Buhain during their conversations.

Leviste initially refrained from confirming names but admitted it was Buhain after program host Pinky Webb mentioned him on air.

As of press time, Buhain had yet to respond to requests for comment.

Leviste unseated Buhain in the most recent midterm elections. The former Olympian is married to Eileen Ermita, who also previously represented Batangas’ first district. She is the daughter of retired general Eduardo Ermita, who served as executive secretary under the Arroyo administration.

Leviste said the bribe offer made to him could have reached up to 10 percent of the total cost of a project. He added that engineers described kickbacks as common in government infrastructure, with rates ranging between 15 and 20 percent for “horizontal” projects such as roads, and around 10 percent for “vertical” works like hospitals and government buildings.

“Actually, he (district engineer) said it in almost sweeping terms – lahat ng mga projects ay meron,” Leviste noted in the same report.

The congressman, who declared assets worth P34 billion, is also known for selling his solar power company to tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan’s Manila Electric Co.(MyTVCebu)