The House of Representatives Infrastructure Committee (InfraComm) will ask for a copy of the files of the late Public Works Undersecretary Maria Cataliana Cabral, the panel’s co-chair Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said.
InfraComm previously investigated the flood control corruption scandal before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure was created to lead the probe.
“We will request for the files from the DPWH. We will ask for copies of it next week,” Ridon said in a forum Saturday.
Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste earlier claimed to have in his possession a copy of Cabral’s files on flood control projects, including budget insertions made by politicians and some officials from the executive branch, since September last year.
While Leviste has made a partial disclosure of the files he has on his social media account, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro described it as hearsay until it is officially authenticated by the DPWH.
Castro said the emergence of conflicting versions highlights the risk of relying on unverified material.
“Stories without solid evidentiary support will remain mere rumors. Let us wait for the Office of the Ombudsman to speak on this,” Castro said.
Citing Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano, Castro said documents “in the hands of private individuals that can be edited” cannot be considered conclusive evidence.
Ridon expressed confidence the DPWH would be able to give the House panel copies of the documents since the department has its own copies of Cabral’s files that it turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman on December 23, 2025.
“If they were able to give to the Ombudsman, I don’t think there is any reason to not give to the House Infrastructure Committee and to the House Public Accounts Committee,” he said.
Ridon clarified the move to request for copies of Cabral’s files was not intended to debunk the supposed copies which Leviste claims to have.
He also did not discount the possibility that the tri-committee body revives its proceedings into the flood control corruption mess if and when the ICI gets dissolved.
But he said that “as long as ICI subsists, the House will recuse.”
