Leviste should release all ‘Cabral files’ — group

MANILA, Philippines — Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste should release all the “Cabral files” in his possession so the documents can be used as evidence to file complaints against individuals involved in infrastructure-related corruption, a coalition said during a Rizal Day protest on Tuesday.

In an interview with the media, Taumbayan Ayaw sa Magnanakaw at Abusado Network Alliance (Tama Na) Convernor Prof. David Michael San Juan called on Leviste to publicize the files of the late Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.

“All the files related to corruption held by the congressman—those held by Leviste, if he indeed has them—should be released in full so we can review and examine them. If this is credible evidence, it can be used to file complaints, so that everyone involved in corruption can be imprisoned,” San Juan said in Filipino.

READ: Files by Cabral shown to Ombudsman ‘partial’

This followed Leviste’s partial release of documents from former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials, detailing the agency’s budget allocations from 2023 to 2026, broken down by region, district, and province.

San Juan also urged the government once again to obtain Cabral’s documents, particularly those that could serve as evidence of corruption in the flood control scandal.

“The government should secure the Cabral files and all documents, evidence related to the corruption in this flood control, all of that should be obtained because the people deserve the whole truth. Whether it reaches Malacañang, the Senate and Congress, we want to know who the mastermind is,” he said in Filipino.

READ: DPWH yields Cabral files, computer to Ombudsman

On December 23, five days after Cabral’s death in Benguet, the DPWH turned over her computer and files to the Office of the Ombudsman for digital forensic examination.

Among these were 10 years’ worth of documents, including “requests for consideration in the programming of the NEP (National Expenditure Program),” the DPWH said during the turnover.

Cabral, who served in the DPWH for 30 years, was privy to lawmakers’ “requests” regarding the DPWH budget, making her a key figure in investigations and inquiries into anomalous infrastructure projects.

She resigned from the DPWH on September 14, during the congressional hearings on the flood control scandal. /mcm