House InfraComm to include bribery attempt in flood control probe

The House Infrastructure Committee investigating flood control and other infrastructure projects may include in its probe the reported bribery attempt on Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste.

"The bribery attempt may be the subject of future House Infrastructure Committee hearings," House Infra Comm co-chair Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon told GMA Integrated News on Monday.

Ridon also said the committee, composed of the House Committees on Public Accounts which he chairs, Good Government and Public Accountability, and Public Works and Highways, may invite Leviste and the arrested district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

"We may ask Rep. Leviste to provide further details in the hearing and invite all concerned persons to provide further information, including the district engineer," Ridon added.

The said district engineer, identified as Abelardo Calalo of DPWH Batangas 1st District, was arrested for allegedly trying to bribe Leviste in Batangas with P3.126 million to dissuade the lawmaker from launching a probe into anomalous projects, the Police Regional Office 4A (PRO 4A) said on Monday.

He was arrested in a special operation in Taal, Batangas on Friday evening. 

The suspect, currently under custody of the Taal Municipal Police Station for booking and proper disposition, faces charges for corruption of public officials under the Revised Penal Code, as well as violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act at the Batangas Provincial Prosecutors Office.

Asked for a comment, Calalo refused to give any, according to GMA Integrated News reporter Ian Cruz.

Independent commission

House Committee on Human Rights Chairman Bienvenido Abante also wants the issue investigated but by an independent commission instead of by the House of Representatives.

"May cover-up diyan. Hindi puwedeng walang takipan diyan. Pangalawa, may mga pagkakataon, 'yung mga ganyang imbestigasyon ng Congress, for example, o ng Senado would be more hypocritical than honest," Abante said.

(There would be a cover-up. It's impossible not to have one. Second, there are instances when such investigations by Congress, for example, or by the Senate would be more hypocritical than honest.)

"Kinakailangang magpatuloy although ako, mas maganda sa akin sana magkaroon ng independent commission to investigate. Kasi 'pag Kamara ang nag-imbestiga, parang may bias 'yan. 'Pag nag-imbestiga ang Kamara, paano 'yan kapag ang tinuro na, mga members ng Kamara? So independent commission and ang magiging member diyan would be talaga na mga kilala nating mga above board na mga legal luminaries to really investigate the issue once and for all," he explained.

(The investigation has to continue, although for me, I believe it would be better if an independent commission would do the probe. If Congress investigates, there would be bias. What if members of Congress are implicated? So an independent commission [would be best], and its members would be legal luminaries who are known to be above board who can really investigate the issue once and for all.)

Abante also agreed that the DPWH district engineer (DE) involved be summoned to the investigation.

"'Yung DE, kinakailangan din imbestigahan, tanungin kung sino ang taong behind him. Sapagkat palagay ko, hindi lang siya 'yan eh. Palagay ko, mayroon pang malalaking tao diyan behind the DE," Abante said.

(The DE should also be investigated and asked if there are people behind him. I think he is not acting alone. There may be big names behind the DE.)

House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability Chair and House Infrastructure Committee Co-chair Representative Joel Chua meanwhile on Monday lauded Leviste for turning down a bribe from the said district engineer.

"Congressman Leandro Leviste did the right thing, and I fully support him. I thank him for defending the honor of the House of Representatives," Chua said in a statement.

Chua also called on the DPWH to sanction the said district engineer even as criminal procedures continue.

"The DPWH must immediately impose administrative sanctions on the district engineer who was arrested by the police, even as criminal charges take their course. Marapat nating subaybayan ang kasong ito upang hindi mabaon sa limot, hanggang sa tuluyang mapanagot ang dapat managot," he said.

(This case should be monitored so it will not be forgotten to the point that those responsible are no longer held accountable.)

House Assistant Minority Leader and Akbayan Party-list Representative Chel Diokno also condemned the district engineer's actions.

"Sa gitna ng mga anomalya sa mga flood control projects, higit na nakababahala at hindi katanggap-tanggap ang pagtatangkang suhulan ang isang mambabatas upang hadlangan ang imbestigasyon sa mga proyekto ng DPWH sa kanyang distrito, na nangyari pa mismo sa aking bayan sa Taal, Batangas," Diokno said in a statement.

(In the midst of anomalies in flood control projects, it is worrisome and unacceptable that there is an attempt to bribe a lawmaker to stop the investigation into DPWH projects in his district, and this happened in my own hometown, Taal, Batangas.)

"Dapat itong mabilis na maaksiyunan at tiyaking mananagot ang mga sangkot. Ang ganitong gawain ay hindi lamang pagsasamantala kundi direktang pagtataksil sa tiwala ng taumbayan," he added.

(This should be acted upon immediately and those involved should be held accountable. This act is not just taking advantage but is a direct betrayal of trust of our countrymen.)

Diokno also stresseed  that the incident should serve as a warning to all corrupt officials.

"Nawa’y magsilbi itong malinaw na babala sa iba pang tiwaling opisyal: ang sambayanan ay nakamasid, hindi papayag, at patuloy na lalaban upang hindi manakaw ang kaban ng bayan," he added. 

(May this serve as a clear warning to other corrupt officials: The nation is watching and will not allow the country's coffers to be stolen.)

Suspended

The DPWH said the district engineer "will be relieved of his assignment, and preventive suspension will be implemented."

It said the recent allegations against the engineer identified as a certain “Abe” are “deeply concerning” and are “being taken very seriously.” —KG, GMA Integrated News