‘Cabral left complete list of budget insertions’

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

December 22, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The late Department of Public Works and Highways undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral left behind a “complete list” of budget insertions for DPWH flood control projects, a neophyte congressman said yesterday.

Batangas first district Rep. Leandro Leviste said Cabral gave him the files on the budget insertions, which he was willing to release.

“The late undersecretary Cabral gave me files of DPWH insertions of the whole country, thanks to Secretary Vince (Dizon of DPWH). And I will release them if he tells me to,” Leviste posted in his official Facebook account.

“I will await the DPWH’s position on this, and I will do so if Secretary Vince tells me to. I can also release the insertions of proponents to the extent that I am allowed in Congress as I did on Nov. 19,” he said.

The list can guide investigators on who were involved in the anomalous projects and what those programs are.

If corroborated by documents and witnesses, the list can provide incriminating evidence that can pin down the insertion proponents for plunder or graft.

Leviste disclosed he already “showed” the Cabral files to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) last Nov. 19, and before Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Nov. 26, who both said “the files would be helpful for their investigation.”

“The release of the files would have wide-ranging consequences. They list proponents of flood control and other DPWH projects from the whole government – not only congressmen and senators, but also from the executive, including secretaries and undersecretaries outside DPWH, as well as private individuals,” he said.

Due to this, Leviste decided that “so as not to compromise my work in Congress, I would prefer that DPWH be the one to decide on releasing these files to the public.”

“My concern is that DPWH personnel who have copies of these files are kept safe and that all such files are preserved,” he said.

Cabral ‘knew more’ than Bernardo, Bonoan

Early this month, Leviste – who blew the whistle on district engineers’ shenanigans – hinted that government can also utilize another public works official as another state witness in the flood control scandal cases being investigated by the ombudsman.

In an interview with Karen Davila on ANC, Leviste offered the possible testimony of Cabral, who was forced to resign at the height of the controversy.

“(Former) undersecretary Cabral knows more than (former) undersecretary (Roberto) Bernardo. If she uses her lips that would be very enlightening. On a nationwide scale, she probably knows more than (ex-secretary Manny) Bonoan,” he pointed out.

Prior to her resignation, Cabral was undersecretary for planning and public-private partnership of the DPWH, and directly dealt with congressmen and senators with regard to their pet infrastructure projects across the country.

“She (Cabral) can contribute a lot to the investigation. The files, before the computers were discovered to be empty and in shambles, were with undersecretary Cabral. I think until there is a legal pressure on DPWH officials, they won’t tell all,” Leviste said.

“This is of grave national interest. Here, I think the Ombudsman and the ICI can undertake a case build-up on this alone. Hopefully, we will find bid-rigging in these DPWH projects,” he suggested.

Leviste broached the idea of utilizing Cabral as another state witness after he accused Rep. Edwin Gardiola (CWS party-list) – who was among those charged before the Office of the Ombudsman – of “pre-ordering” more than P22 billion in DPWH projects in this year’s national budget.

He also divulged that these projects were later awarded to companies allegedly linked to Gardiola.

“He talked to me, and I found out that these projects were overpriced. He offered me farm-to-market road projects,” Leviste said.

“I was frustrated because why would I be still talking to a middleman? Why do projects still have to pass through middlemen? Some of my colleagues are just afraid to talk. But for me, it’s in the best interest of my district. He cornered the budget for my district,” he said.

“I really hope that we would not just be able to uncover ghost substandard projects, but also overpriced ones,” Leviste said, noting that there have been at least P42 billion worth of DPWH contracts tied to Gardiola’s family, but that he believes he actually has P100 billion worth more.

“He (Gardiola) told me Bonoan was his ninong,” Leviste said.

He presented a document from Cabral as evidence that shows specific projects were earmarked for allocation even before the budget was deliberated. Gardiola – reportedly the second biggest contractor after resigned congressman Zaldy Co – has denied the allegations.