Manila, Philippines – More lawmakers are being dragged into the public works corruption scandal with Batangas Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste tagging his colleague, CWS party-list Rep. Edwin Gardiola, as another contractor in Congress that authorities should go after.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 19, Leviste said Gardiola – through companies or contractors – cornered a third of the P100 billion in public works contracts in Leviste’s congressional district.
“So, I estimate that if in my district around one-third are under his name, perhaps roughly the same rule of thumb can be established (in other districts),” he said.
Leviste visited the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Wednesday, Nov. 19, to ask the investigating body to consider Gardiola in its watchlist of contractors.
“Kung tingnan natin yung ibang mga contractors na kinakasuhan nila, none of them are bigger than Congressman Gardiola other than Zaldy Co or possibly the Discayas. He is the top contractor in Congress,” he told a press briefing.
The lawmaker said the ICI told him that the body was “not given untethered access” to the office of Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, from whom Leviste obtained documents linking Gardiola to questionable contracts.
“Sana walang nasunog, sana walang nabura [Hopefully nothing was burned or deleted],” Leviste said.
NewsWatch Plus has yet to hear the side of Gardiola.
