3 months ago
51
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
Alexis Romero - The Philippine Star
December 29, 2025 | 1:00am
MANILA, Philippines — An investigation should be conducted on how the supposed files of the late former public works undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral were obtained, as evidence acquired illegally has no probative value, Malacañang said yesterday.
Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said there have been reports that the documents obtained by Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Leviste came from a staff member, not Cabral.
She added that Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon had already clarified that he has not authenticated any document in Leviste’s possession.
“Yes, I think so, because these statements on how they were acquired came from Sec. Vince Dizon. What is important here is how were the files obtained from the staff?” the Palace press officer told radio dzBB when asked whether she thought the manner by which the files were sourced should be probed.
“Because it was clear, I heard it from the news, it came from a staff (member).It seems that it did not come from (former DPWH undersecretary) Cabral,” Castro added.
Cabral, who served as public works undersecretary for planning, was a key personality in the investigation into the multibillion-peso flood control mess that allowed corrupt officials and contractors to pocket huge sums from subpar and non-existent projects. She resigned in September after being linked to questionable budget insertions.
Cabral fell in a ravine in Tuba, Benguet on the evening of Dec. 18 and was declared dead midnight the following day. According to the interior and local government department, there were no signs of foul play in her death and that all indicators pointed to suicide as a probable reason for her demise.
On Dec. 21, Leviste claimed Cabral provided him files listing the proponents of the DPWH’s insertions on Sept. 4. The lawmaker said the files were given to him after Dizon told Cabral to release them “in the interest of transparency.”
He added that the files enumerated project proponents who are lawmakers, private persons and people from the executive branch, “including secretaries and undersecretaries outside DPWH.”
But Dizon disputed Leviste’s claim, saying the lawmaker had forcibly acquired copies of the files from Cabral’s office by saving them in a flash drive through a staff member’s computer. Leviste has denied the accusation.
Malacañang had said that any document remains hearsay unless authenticated by the DPWH.
Castro said everyone wants to know the truth about the flood control scandal so the release of information that would shed light on the issue should be done without delay. But she also pointed out the consequence of obtaining evidence through unlawful means.
“If you use illegal means to get it (evidence), it would lose its probative value, it would become pointless,” the Palace press officer added.
