‘Leviste’s bold act gives us hope that Rizal’s prediction that the youth is our country’s hope will still come true.’
ANG kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan (The youth is the hope of the motherland).”
Who would have thought that these lines of Dr. Jose Rizal from the 1879 Spanish poem “A la Juventud Filipina” (To the Filipino Youth) would be rekindled during these days when corruption seems to be unabated in every nook and cranny in the government?
Unlike some rich kids who are into booze, sex, and rock and roll, 32-year-old Leandro Leviste intends to make a difference.
When he set up an entrapment for Batangas 1st District Engineer Abelardo Calalo of the Department of Public Works and Highways, the day after the anniversary of the Ninoy Aquino assassination that jolted the nation, the young Leviste made another history.
For the first time, a lawmaker stands up on moral ground by not only refusing the P360-million bribe but also having the “corruptor” thrown behind bars.
What a fitting tribute as the country observes National Heroes Day.
Although DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan confirmed that Calalo offered Leviste “a little more than P3 million” to stop his investigation into alleged irregularities in the district’s infrastructure projects, it is still revolting and totally unacceptable.
It’s really time to clean up the DPWH.
We can only hope that Bonoan’s announcement that he suspended Calalo and relieved 10 officials from the 1st District Engineering Office in Bulacan of their posts pending an investigation into alleged “ghost projects” is not only for show.
The bribery attempt on Leviste was not an isolated event, as Bonoan likes to impress.
With the filing of a case against Calalo, we can only hope that this will not be the first and the last.
Leviste’s uncompromising stance against corruption in DPWH only proves that a systemic cancer has long eaten away at the very foundation of our public infrastructure.
There is sense in Leviste’s position that projects must be delivered at a better quality and lower cost.
He also prefers that contractors be obligated to correct deficiencies without extra government spending.
Praise Leviste for exposing the attempted bribe. Truly, with a principled youth like Leviste, there is a glimmer of hope for our country to be lifted from the quagmire of poverty and underdevelopment due to corruption.
Leviste’s bold act gives us hope that Rizal’s prediction that the youth is our country’s hope will still come true.
