A district engineer in Batangas has been arrested after allegedly offering over P3 million to a congressman in an attempt to block an investigation into questionable projects, police authorities confirmed.
According to the Police Regional Office 4A, the suspect—identified only as “Abe,” a district engineer assigned in Balayan—was caught in a special operation in Barangay Poblacion Zone, Taal, Batangas. Authorities said the engineer had offered Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste P3,126,900 to stop him from pursuing a probe into supposed irregularities in local Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects.
“According to Congressman Leviste, the bribe was extended in an attempt to dissuade him from initiating an investigation into alleged anomalies involving DPWH projects within the 1st District of Batangas,” the police report stated, as quoted by GMA News Online.
The cash was recovered and is now being held as evidence. The engineer remains under police custody and will face charges under the Revised Penal Code and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the arrest was justified if the allegations prove true. “Dapat lang mangyari ‘yan sa mga district engineer sa ganyang asal. Talagang I will not have second thought actually na dapat they deserve it actually ng mga ganyang nangyayari,” he told Dobol B TV, stressing that there was no need to visit the engineer in detention.
For his part, Leviste confirmed that his office is preparing a formal case against the suspect. “We should not tolerate any corruption in DPWH. We should demand projects at better quality and lower cost, and obligate contractors to correct any deficiencies immediately without additional cost to the government. Beyond this case, we will push for broader reforms to address systemic problems of DPWH,” his statement read.
