Batangas Lawmaker Clarifies Donation Collection Allegations
Batangas Representative Leandro Legarda Leviste firmly denied any involvement in the alleged collection of donations, a claim recently linked to him by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Batangas 1st District Engineer Abelardo Calalo. The issue has stirred controversy, but Leviste emphasized that the party-list lawmaker mentioned by Calalo was never brought up in their previous meeting.
In an impromptu interview at the Batasang Pambansa complex, Leviste addressed the claims after Calalo alleged that Uswag Ilonggo party-list Representative James “Jojo” Ang Jr. was the one who requested donations for the Batangas lawmaker. Leviste clarified that during their only meeting in December 2024, Calalo never mentioned such a request.
Details of the Meeting and Clarifications
Leviste recounted that their initial and only encounter occurred on December 27, 2024. The discussion centered on seeking approval from the local DPWH office to donate for repairs on the Puting Kahoy and Binambang River bridges in Batangas’ first district. At that time, Leviste was not yet a congressman and had no direct involvement in DPWH projects for the area aside from his donation.
“Hindi pa ako congressman noon, wala po akong kinalaman sa mga DPWH projects ng unang district ng Batangas, maliban sa ako pa ang nag-donate,” he stated. Leviste added that Calalo never once mentioned the other party-list representative during their conversation, stressing his certainty about this.
Evidence and Admission by Calalo
Leviste revealed that it was Calalo who requested a meeting with one of his staff. The lawmaker’s team has kept records of their text exchanges and the receipt of the money collected by Calalo, which could serve as evidence. Importantly, Leviste highlighted that Calalo admitted to bringing cash intended for him, a fact that led to the DPWH official’s arrest.
“He texted my staff to ask to meet me that day. He requested the meeting, and when we met, he said that the contractors want to make padala suporta and meron na siyang dalang suporta,” Leviste explained. He noted that Calalo volunteered this information and admitted to receiving money from contractors, which he claimed was for the lawmaker’s programs and that the contractors were pleased with his work.
Calalo’s Account and Meetings
Calalo, for his part, stated that his first meeting with Leviste was in December 2024, when the lawmaker inquired about ongoing district projects. He also mentioned a subsequent post-election meeting involving Leviste, Ang, and staff from Senator Loren Legarda’s office, Leviste’s mother.
Legal Actions and Corruption Allegations
Following these events, Leviste filed charges against Calalo for Corruption of Public Officials and Violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. This was in response to the alleged bribery attempt aimed at halting the investigation into flood control projects in Batangas.
Reports from August revealed that a DPWH district engineer was arrested in Taal, Batangas, for attempting to bribe Leviste with over P3.1 million to stop scrutiny of infrastructure irregularities. Leviste confirmed he would pursue legal action against Calalo, who is accused of acting as a conduit for major contractors seeking to give the lawmaker a share of government contracts.
Contractor Bribery Scheme Exposed
Leviste shared that Calalo privately informed him about several contractors wanting to meet and offer him a 5 to 10 percent cut from DPWH projects, describing it as a standard operating procedure within the department. These revelations further implicate Calalo in a wider scheme involving government infrastructure contracts.
For more news and updates on Batangas lawmaker donation collection, visit Filipinokami.com.
