Abelardo Calalo, suspended District Engineer for Batangas 1st District under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), has denied allegations of graft and corruption filed against him by Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste, suggesting the case may have political undertones.
In a counter-affidavit filed last Friday, Calalo described the complaint as a misrepresentation of events and maintained that his engagement in the Batangas 1st District Engineering Office only began in 2024. He stated that he first met Representative Leviste in December of that year.
Calalo recalled attending a budget-related meeting after the May 2025 elections, with Leviste, Senator Loren Legarda, and Uswag Party-list Representative Jojo Ang. He said Senator Legarda requested that he help facilitate infrastructure projects within the district, in coordination with Ang.
According to Calalo, on May 28, 2025, Representative Ang advised him to seek voluntary contributions from DPWH contractors in support of district initiatives. Later, on July 31, Calalo claimed that staff members from Leviste’s office visited the district engineering office, reviewed documents, took photographs, and requested files without formal documentation. He raised concerns about the manner in which this was conducted.
Calalo also stated that on August 5, Ang reiterated the request for contractor support, clarifying that these were not bribes but goodwill gestures. Calalo said Ang noted the funds could be returned if not approved by the congressman.
On August 14, Calalo reported a visit from Representative Leviste, who inquired about contractors allegedly linked to former Representative Eric Buhain. Calalo denied any such associations. A follow-up from Ang prompted another meeting between Calalo and Leviste on August 22.
During that meeting, Calalo claimed Leviste inquired about potential fundraising amounts and mentioned figures based on a percentage of project value. Calalo said he was later instructed to retrieve the funds, but upon doing so, was met by law enforcement and placed under arrest.
Calalo asserted that the money was intended for district projects and not for personal gain. He denied offering any financial inducement to the congressman and characterized the incident as a setup rather than a legitimate anti-corruption operation.
In his statement, Calalo expressed concern about the broader implications, noting: “Ordinary individuals should not be placed in vulnerable positions for political ends.”
Statement from Representative Leviste
In response, Representative Leviste posted on Facebook that the funds Calalo brought were accompanied by receipts from three contracts totaling ₱104.2 million, along with a handwritten note referencing a “3%” figure, amounting to over ₱3.1 million.
Leviste also said that Calalo had earlier identified other contractors who were willing to contribute, and questioned why those details were excluded from the counter-affidavit. He called on Calalo to clarify how contractor selection was handled and to identify any other parties involved.
“He admitted to collecting funds for the purpose of giving them to me, labeling it a donation. But the presence of official receipts raises further questions,” Leviste stated.| – Kabayannews.net
