Leviste tags Eric Buhain as ‘big fish’ in bribery

MANILA, Philippines — Neophyte congressman Leandro Leviste admitted last night that his predecessor Eric Buhain – a former Olympic swimmer – was the “big fish” he was referring to in the bribe attempt by a local district engineer arrested in an entrapment operation.

“The big fish really here is the district congressman,” the Batangas first district representative told Bilyonaryo News Channel.

As of last night, Buhain had not responded to The STAR’s request for comment.

He said the arrested engineer implicated Buhain during their conversation. Leviste was forced to admit that it was Buhain after program host Pinky Webb named him.

Leviste beat Buhain in the last midterm elections. Buhain is the son-in-law of former military general Eduardo Ermita, who served as executive secretary during the Arroyo administration.

Prior to Buhain’s stint, it was his wife Eileen Ermita who served as lawmaker.

During the interview, Leviste also revealed that if he had accepted the bribe, the percentage could go as high as 10 percent of the total project cost.

The Batangas lawmaker has assets amounting to P34 billion, part of which represented proceeds from the sale of his solar power firm to tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan’s Manila Electric Co.

As for the other engineers, for “horizontal projects” like roads and the like, commissions range from a low of 15 percent to a high of 20 percent, while “vertical” or buildings like hospitals, the standard operating procedure or SOP averaged  10 percent.

“Actually, he (district engineer) said it in almost sweeping terms – lahat ng mga projects ay meron,” he said.