Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste on Friday questioned the appointment of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Arrey Perez to a key procurement role, citing what he described as a “questionable history” in bidding and procurement during Perez’s time at the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).
Speaking at a press conference at the House of Representatives, Leviste said he found it “surprising” that DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, who previously served as BCDA president, would tap Perez for a position that could place him in charge of bidding and project operations at the DPWH Central Office.
“Nakakapagtaka, bakit sa lahat ng mga tao sa buong Pilipinas, si Usec. Arrey Perez pa ang aatasan ni Secretary Vince Dizon para sa posisyon na ‘yan na posible pa siya ang hahawak ng bidding ng mga proyekto sa Central Office na sakop ang buong bansa?” Leviste asked.
“Sa tingin ko, maraming mga madidismaya sa high expectations ng liderato ni Secretary Vince Dizon kung makita nila ang history ng bidding and procurement ni Undersecretary Arrey Perez,” he stressed.
Leviste said Perez’s past involvement in BCDA’s procurement processes had long been a subject of concern among contractors and insiders.
“He is the name that I’ve heard the most times, even from the media, for certain questionable dealings. And what I have said is, what I think records and many other testimonies will attest, that he has had some questionable history on bidding and procurement, and that he is potentially going to be involved in the bidding of projects in the Central Office covering the whole country,” Leviste said.
He added that several of his sources and members of the media had independently mentioned Perez’s name when discussing “irregularities” in previous biddings.
“I don’t think that Secretary Dizon will say, and I do not think it will be wise for him to say, na wala akong basehan na pangalanan si Usec. Arrey Perez,” Leviste said.
“Kung sasabihin niya ‘yan, buksan natin ang records ng lahat ng mga biddings at procurement sa panahon ni Secretary Vince Dizon sa BCDA. Sigurado po ako hindi niya sasabihin na walang issue sa bidding at procurement noong panahon nila sa BCDA,” he added.
Leviste urged Secretary Dizon to carefully reconsider Perez’s role in overseeing national-level projects, saying it would be unwise to entrust a figure with a checkered record to lead critical procurement operations.
“I think it’s safe to say that I don’t think it’s a good idea for Secretary Dizon to put Undersecretary Ari Perez in charge of operations—I think that’s his title—or bidding for projects in the whole country,” he said.
Despite his criticisms, Leviste maintained that he continues to hope for Secretary Dizon’s success in reforming the DPWH.
“I do believe that Secretary Dizon is a good man, and he just has a very challenging job, and no team is perfect,” Leviste assured.
“But to cut to the chase, there’s two things he can do to prove that he is against kickbacks in DPWH: Lower the price and release the information that has been requested that he said he will give, that he readily has available to Congress and to the public today. And if he does that, then I think that will already address any doubts over the leadership of DPWH,” he said.
