Lacson: DPWH Execs Relegated to Being Bagmen of Big Contractors, ‘Funders’

The foiled bribe try by a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer on Rep. Leandro Leviste last weekend may indicate DPWH district officials have become “legmen” and “bagmen” of powerful contractors and/or “funders,” or the lawmakers responsible for insertions in the General Appropriations Act, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Monday.

Lacson also said the corruption in the DPWH may have become so systemic that a surgical solution – beyond kicking out or reassigning officials – may be needed.

“DPWH Batangas 1st District Engineer Abelardo Calalo is far from being a ‘big fish.’ His arrest after a foiled bribery try on Rep. Leviste reinforces my theory that some DPWH officials, at least at the district engineering level have already been relegated to being ‘legmen’ and worse, ‘bagmen’ of some ‘powerful contractors’ or ‘funders’ responsible for the insertions in the budget,” Lacson said.

In Filipino: Lacson: Opisyal ng DPWH, Ginawang ‘Bagmen’ na Lang ng Malalaking Kontratista at ‘Funder’

“Having said that, the investigation of this instant case should dig deeper to determine under whose direction Calalo was offering the bribe money. And I am not referring to higher DPWH officials but to the ‘funder/s’ or the lawmaker/s who made the insertions in the 2025 GAA,” he added.

He said the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group or even the National Bureau of Investigation “should step in to pursue an expanded and more extensive investigation and not stop at filing a case against Calalo.”

“They should find out who is/are behind his bribe offer,” he said.

Lacson cited information reaching him showing the bribe offer was related to the reported P3.6 billion worth of “approved” budget under the 2025 GAA in the form of “kickbacks,” which was supposed to represent 10% (or P360 million), or an increase from the usual 5-6% “passing through” or “parking fee” for the district representative having jurisdiction over the project sites.

“Somebody more powerful must be behind this whole scheme. Kasi malaki yan P3.6 billion lahat ang sinasabi doon, approved under the 2025 GAA (Somebody more powerful must be behind this whole scheme because this involves P3.6 billion worth of projects approved under the 2025 General Appropriations Act),” he said.

He reiterated the important thing is to make sure all those involved, no matter how powerful, will be punished.

Meanwhile, Lacson said the DPWH must make “surgical” reforms and go beyond relieving or reassigning officials. He noted that during the Aquino administration, then DPWH Sec. Rogelio Singson managed to “rein in” the bureaucracy under him.

“Surgical talaga. Kicking out people is just one simple solution. Hindi ganoon. Dapat talaga, kasi systemic na kaya kailangan surgical ang solution. Operahan na talaga. Di pwede ang tapal tapal, di pwede band aid (We need a surgical solution. Kicking out people is a simple solution but it is not the answer. Corruption has become systemic in the DPWH so a surgical solution is needed, not a band-aid one),” he said.

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Lacson: Opisyal ng DPWH, Ginawang ‘Bagmen’ na Lang ng Malalaking Kontratista at ‘Funder’

Ang nabigong pagtatangka ng district engineer ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) na suhulan si Rep. Leandro Leviste noong nakaraang linggo ay maaaring indikasyon na ang mga opisyal ng DPWH ay naging “legmen” at “bagmen” ng malalakas na kontratista at/o ng mga “funder” o ang mambabatas na sumisingit ng pondo sa pambansang budget paa sa proyekto, ayon kay Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Lunes.

Iginiit din ni Lacson na kailangan na ang “surgical solution” sa sistematikong katiwalian sa DPWH, higit pa sa simpleng pagpapalit o pag-reassign ng mga opisyal.

“DPWH Batangas 1st District Engineer Abelardo Calalo is far from being a ‘big fish.’ His arrest after a foiled bribery try on Rep. Leviste reinforces my theory that some DPWH officials, at least at the district engineering level have already been relegated to being ‘legmen’ and worse, ‘bagmen’ of some ‘powerful contractors’ or ‘funders’ responsible for the insertions in the budget,” ani Lacson.

“Having said that, the investigation of this instant case should dig deeper to determine under whose direction Calalo was offering the bribe money. And I am not referring to higher DPWH officials but to the ‘funder/s’ or the lawmaker/s who made the insertions in the 2025 GAA,” dagdag niya.

Ani Lacson, dapat magkaroon ng masusing imbestigasyon ang Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group o kahit ang National Bureau of Investigation, at hindi dapat tumigil sa paghain ng kaso kay Calalo.

“They should find out who is/are behind his bribe offer,” aniya.

Binanggit ni Lacson ang impormasyong nakarating sa kanya kung saan maaaring magkaugnay ang tangkang panunuhol at ang naiulat na P3.6 bilyong aprubadong budget sa 2025 GAA, sa anyo ng “kickbacks” na umaabot ng 10% (o P360 million). Ito ay mas mataas sa “usual” na 5-6% “passing through” o “parking fee” para sa kongresistang may hurisdiksyon sa project site.

“Somebody more powerful must be behind this whole scheme. Kasi malaki yan P3.6 billion lahat ang sinasabi doon, approved under the 2025 GAA,” ani Lacson.

Muli niyang iginiit na ang pinakamahalagang bagay ay masigurong maparusahan ang lahat ng sangkot, gaano man sila kalakas.

Samantala, sinabi rin ni Lacson na dapat magsagawa ang DPWH ng “surgical” reforms at hindi lang basta pagpapalit o pagre-reassign ng mga opisyal. Binigyang-pansin niya na noong panahon ni dating Pangulong Aquino, nagawa ni noo’y DPWH Sec. Rogelio Singson na “rein in” ang burukrasya sa kanyang kagawaran.

“Surgical talaga. Kicking out people is just one simple solution. Hindi ganoon. Dapat talaga, kasi systemic na kaya kailangan surgical ang solution. Operahan na talaga. Di pwede ang tapal tapal, di pwede band aid,” ani Lacson.

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