DPWH personnel insist Leviste forcibly took docs, copied files
More people have cast doubt on the so-called “Cabral list” in the possession of Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, with some DPWH personnel insisting the lawmaker forcibly took documents and copied files from the office of the late Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.
Contrary to Leviste’s claim that Cabral gave him the files with the approval of DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, several public works personnel told GMA News that Cabral even sustained paper cuts and bled after Leviste allegedly took the documents from her hand.
The narrative of the DPWH matched the statement of Dizon earlier who said Leviste appeared to be throwing his weight around when he went to Cabral’s office.
Dizon yesterday said that while he authorized the release of a copy of the legislative district breakdown for DPWH’s 2026 proposed budget, he did not approve the forcible taking of Cabral’s file.
“I authorized the release of the legislative district breakdown, absolutely. But (Leviste’s) stealing of files from the computer—that had no imprimatur. As for him struggling over papers with Cabral, that had no imprimatur. Why would I give that imprimatur?”
Dizon said the documents from Cabral’s office are already with the Office of the Ombudsman.
The DPWH chief on Tuesday also denied allegations by Leviste that he made supposed “insertions” or used “allocable” funds for flood control projects under the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).
“Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon categorically denies the baseless and malicious allegations made by Rep. Leandro Leviste regarding supposed ‘insertions’ or ‘allocables,’” the DPWH said in a statement.
“The BCDA, which Secretary Dizon formerly headed, has already issued a clear statement that it has no flood control projects that are funded through budget insertions, ‘allocable funds,’ or any discretionary source,” it added.
BCDA, in a separate statement, said no such funds exist within its project portfolio or under its authority, and any claims suggesting otherwise are unsupported by evidence and false.
“All projects are financed only through approved government programs, released through the National Treasury, implemented under the General Appropriations Act, and governed by procurement laws and Commission on Audit rules,” the agency said.
Leviste, for his part, denied taking the documents from Cabral without her permission, but confirmed that he did copy files from a computer in her office.
“I vehemently deny snatching any document from Usec. Cabral. My question is, why are they only saying this now if it were actually true?” he said.
As this developed, House public accounts committee chairperson Terry Ridon said Leviste may face an ethics complaint over allegations he illegally acquired files from Cabral’s office.
“Reports that he forcibly took the files from the office of Usec. Cabral are concerning. That is a big issue and we’d like to get more information about that. The DPWH personnel who spoke about what happened may be invited to the ethics complaint that may be filed against Congressman Leviste,” Ridon said.
“They (personnel) can file the complaint. And of course, the House ethics committee can also look into these particular details motu proprio,” he added.
Earlier, the Office of the Ombudsman and Malacanang raised concerns over Leviste’s so-called “Cabral files,” noting that the documents may have been manipulated and remain subject to verification.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said investigators from the Office of the Ombudsman approached Leviste after he claimed to have received a complete list from Cabral but he “did not present the entire set of files he claimed to possess, even when asked to do so.”
Clavano said this happened when Cabral was still alive and was already represented by a lawyer in the investigation into anomalous flood control projects.
“We reiterate that the shared objective of all concerned institutions and even individuals should be very clear at this point. We need to establish facts, we need to uphold transparency, and we need to hold accountable any individual found to have committed any wrongdoing. So, all our actions must lead to these,” Clavano said.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro described Leviste’s “list” as hearsay until it is officially authenticated by the DPWH.
“The Palace will only respond to the documents authenticated by DPWH. Other than these, they will all be considered as hearsay or tsismis which have no probative value,” she said.
Castro said based on Leviste’s own social media post on his Oct. 1 email to Dizon, it was former DPWH chief Manuel Bonoan who gave the files to him and there was no mention of Cabral.
“So we don’t really know where his (Leviste’s) narrative is coming from. Perhaps he should clarify this because the details keep on changing. Who really gave him the document? Secretary Bonoan? Usec Cabral? When in fact in his Oct. 1, 2025 email, he never mentioned the name of Usec. Cabral,” the Palace official added.
