Leviste: DPWH engineer said Eric Buhain chose winning bidders for flood control projects

Former congressman Eric Buhain allegedly selected the contractors for flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways in the first district of Batangas, his successor Leandro Leviste said in a report on ''24 Oras'' on Wednesday.

This was disclosed to Leviste by DPWH Batangas 1st District Engineer Abelardo Calalo, whom he accused of trying to bribe him in exchange for not launching a probe into anomalous projects. 

Police arrested Calalo in Taal, Batangas on August 22, and he is now facing a criminal complaint for bribery, graft, corruption of public officials, and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

"Ang sinabi sa akin ni DE ay sila ay nag-a-advertise ng mga projects for bidding. May mga contractors na bumibili ng mga documents. Nag-uusap-uusap daw sila para yung isa na na-identify ay manalo," Leviste said in Ian Cruz's report. 

(What DE told me is that they advertise projects for bidding. There are contractors who buy documents. They talk among themselves so that the one who is identified [to get the project] wins.)

"Ang narinig ko na ang sabi sa akin ni DE ay yung pumipili ng winning bidders sa DPWH project sa 1st district ng Batangas ay...yung pinalitan kong congressman," he added. 

(The DE told me that the one who selected the winning bidders for the DPWH project in the 1st district of Batangas was the congressman I just replaced.)

Buhain's comment is still being sought by GMA Integrated News.

In addition to flood control projects, Leviste will also examine the cost and quality of road infrastructure in his district, the report said.

Buhain, who served as congressman from June 2022 to June 2025, lost to Leviste in the midterm polls in May. —VBL, GMA Integrated News