P3.12-million bribe claim in Batangas disputed by district engineer

National

ALLEGATIONS of hush money have shaken Batangas politics after district engineer Abelardo Calalo denied claims that he offered a P3.12-million bribe to Rep. Leandro Leviste, calling the accusations a “twisting of truth.”

Leviste filed charges against Calalo, pointing to payments from contractors as evidence of alleged bribery.

Leviste shared a document listing three infrastructure contracts worth a total of P104.23 million, with a handwritten note showing 3 percent of the total, approximately P3.12 million, allegedly as a bribe.

Authorities reportedly recovered the same amount when Calalo was arrested. The contracts were awarded to TopTech Trading & Construction Co. Inc., owned by Elrey Jose Noche of Lemery, Batangas, who has since left the country.

Leviste said Calalo should not divert attention from other contractors and should acknowledge the long list of names involved in alleged unfair bidding practices at the Department of Public Works and Highways.

In his counteraffidavit submitted on September 5, Calalo detailed multiple meetings with Leviste, including one in December 2024 at a beach club and another after the 2025 elections. He also met with Sen. Loren Legarda, Leviste’s mother, and Rep. James “Jojo” Ang to discuss district projects, noting that Legarda advised him to take care of the initiatives.

Calalo said Ang instructed him to encourage contractors to make donations, which he described as a show of support for Leviste’s projects rather than bribes. He also recalled a visit from Leviste on August 14, when the lawmaker pressed him to reveal contractors awarded with projects by former Rep. Eric Buhain, though Calalo said he had no personal knowledge of Buhain’s experiences.

Tensions escalated on August 22, the day of Calalo’s arrest. Leviste allegedly asked how much would be collected if contributions reached 10 percent. Calalo confirmed the rumored P360 million total if all contractors contributed and admitted to collecting some donations.

He said he only had a small amount on hand and planned to deliver the rest through an assistant, but Leviste insisted on receiving the donations immediately, prompting him to leave the office, at which point authorities arrested him.

“For the record, I vehemently deny that I had tried to offer money to Cong. Leviste in exchange for some favor,” Calalo said in a Philstar report.

Leviste, however, claimed that Calalo left out the name of another contractor willing to give an initial P15 million.

Calalo posted bail on August 28, paying P150,000 for alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices

Act and corruption of public officials. Investigations continue as authorities examine the nature of the payments and the involvement of other contractors.(MyTVCebu)