THERE IS NO way that the Marcos administration would ever win its war against corruption if entrusted officials are surrounded — if not contaminated — by the same breed of crooks that the government is running after.
This comes as a “rookie” politician dropped what looks more like a bombshell dragging the name of a high-ranking official from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
According to Batangas Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste, Undersecretary Arrey Perez is “talking with private contractors,” an act undermining the integrity of an agency which has commenced a purge of crooks among its ranks.
Perez, whom DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon assigned in the procurement and bidding of big-bucket infrastructure projects, is part of the team probing anomalies in the government flood control projects.
RAW DISCLOSURE
In a radio interview, Leviste refused to divulge more details about Perez’ relationship with the contractors but hinted at the urgent need for Dizon to investigate people close and around him.
“Narinig ko na ipapahawak daw sa kanya ang procurement or bidding ng mga malalaking proyekto sa Central Office ng DPWH,” Leviste was quoted as saying in a news report which appeared in Abante.
By his own admission, Leviste would not say whether or not Perez committed an act constituting corruption.
“At hindi ko naman po sinasabi na magkakaroon ng bigayan ng kickback sa itong indibidwal o ‘yang indibidwal na yan pero mahirap po kasi talagang iwasan ang korapsyon sa DPWH,” he added.
“‘Pag bago kang na-appoint na undersecretary, I’m sure marami nang contractors na lumalapit sayo kahit hindi ikaw yung lumalapit sa kanila. Kahit hindi ka humihingi, baka sila ay may inaalok.”
PROBING A PROBER
Upon hearing the news, Dizon said he won’t take chances even as he hinted at investigating people “close and around him” provided that Leviste would divulge the identity of the DPWH official that the young legislator is referring to.
Hence, the young congressman dropped one name — Usec. Perez.
“Ang sinabi ni Dizon sa kanyang press conference kahapon, handa siyang mag-imbestiga. Just name names, so I gave him one,” Leviste was quoted in the report.
“Actually, I can name names of others… during the press briefing, I received a phone call from another high ranking member of DPWH and ayoko naman po kasing pangalanan ang iba pang miyembro ng kanyang team at i-disclose ang iba pang mga narinig ko tungkol sa mga pag-uusap nila sa mga contractors at ang alegasyon na meron daw pang mas malalim na koneksyon ang mga contractors sa kanila.”
NO SACRED COWS
However, Leviste finds it rather imperative for Dizon to go beyond investigation, as the Barangas congressman urged the DPWH chief to inform the public on the details of contractors Perez talked to.
He likewise asked Dizon to compel all the members of his team to disclose which contractors they are in touch with since the beginning of his term and, if possible, who are the other contractors they are familiar with.
“Para kung makinabang sila sa DWPH sa mga susunod na panahon, malalaman natin na may koneksyon pala ang mga opisyal ng DPWH sa mga kontratistang ito.”
He however clarified that he has full confidence in Dizon as a reformer and an advocate for transparency, Leviste maintained that it is relevant for the people to know if such meetings were held by DPWH officials outside the department in the past months.
According to Leviste, his only agenda is to push reform in the system to ensure the judicious use of public funds allotted for government infrastructure projects.
WAS LEVISTE BRIBED?
In August 2025, Leviste made headlines over the arrest of Engineer Abelardo Calalo of the Batangas First Engineering District for allegedly bribing the neophyte congressman.
According to Leviste, Calalo offered P3,126,900 in cash for him to abandon the flood control probe in the district. Calalo denied the allegation.
Leviste however insisted that Calalo supposedly admitted collecting “donations” to give to “Congressman Leandro Leviste… in support of his projects in the first district.
But Calalo, who has since been dismissed from the DPWH, has a different story. The engineer claimed that as early as May, another lawmaker had instructed him “to collect donations from construction contractors with existing 2025 DPWH projects within the 1st District of Batangas as a show of support for the projects and programs of Leviste.”
In a previous news article exclusively published in The PH Insider, Calalo dragged the name of Senator Loren Legarda as the “lawmaker” who instructed him to collect from private contractors.