BATANGAS 1st District Representative Leandro Legarda Leviste revealed in an interview on December 5 that resigned Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Arrey Perez tried to help Construction Workers Solidarity Partylist Representative Edwin Gardiola and other DPWH contractors secure contracts.
“USec Perez tried to bring Congressman Gardiola to Secretary Dizon to secure contracts. Perez is close to Gardiola from their time in Batangas, and would have been in a position to help influence biddings at DPWH as Undersecretary for Operations,” Leviste said.
“Yes, I am thankful that DPWH acted on my statement that Undersecretary Arrey Perez is linked to contractors, as his removal has reduced the influence of Gardiola and other contractors over biddings in DPWH’s central office,” Leviste said, when asked if this proved his October 16 statement.
Leviste also disclosed that Perez brought into DPWH an Assistant Secretary and a Director IV who are sub-contractors and suppliers of DPWH. “I brought our findings to Secretary Dizon, who confirmed Perez’s ties with Gardiola, and I thank him for removing USec Perez and the two DPWH officials who are contractors,” Leviste added.
Following these developments, the DPWH confirmed “that the two (2) people brought in by former Undersecretary Arrey Perez are also no longer with the agency and we welcome the independent vetting of all officials in the Department”.
Leviste’s research also found that Perez had also previously recommended awarding contracts for CDC Construction & Supplies, another DPWH contractor.
Leviste’s exposing that DPWH officials are linked to, or are themselves, contractors comes as investigations are currently ongoing on officials of other agencies who became DPWH contractors with flood control projects after assuming office, as well as other officials tagged as proponents in project lists from the DPWH Central Office.
Leviste estimates that companies linked with Gardiola have been able to secure over P100 billion in projects from the DPWH over the years with the help of their contacts throughout the DPWH.
