Palace Calls for Investigation Into How Cabral Files Were Obtained
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro has called for a thorough investigation into how the controversial "Cabral files" were sourced, raising serious questions about the handling of sensitive government documents.
Speaking on Super Radyo dzBB Sunday, Castro emphasized the need to determine how Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon's revelations about the document sourcing came to light.
"In my opinion, this should be investigated because it was Secretary Vince Dizon himself who revealed how these were sourced. What is important is how were any files taken from staff?" Castro stated during the radio interview.
Documents Released by Batangas Representative
The controversy centers on documents released Wednesday by Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste. He claimed these were summary files of the 2025 DPWH budget, allegedly provided by former DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral before her tragic death.
Leviste shared the extensive list of projects per congressional district on his Facebook account, revealing allocations totaling P401.3 billion that supposedly ballooned to P1.041 trillion due to "outside allocable" funds.
The congressman said he received the computer files from Cabral in September, while she served as DPWH undersecretary for planning and public-private partnerships, after Dizon assumed the secretary role.
Secretary Dizon Disputes Authentication
However, Secretary Dizon firmly stated Friday that he has not authenticated any documents in Leviste's possession.
"For the record, I have not authenticated any document in the possession of Congressman Leviste, because I have yet to see the documents he was talking about. So how can I authenticate them?" Dizon told GMA Integrated News.
According to Dizon, Cabral informed him that Leviste forcibly obtained the files by using a staff member's computer and saving them to his flash drive.
Questions About File Transfer
Castro raised critical questions about the alleged file transfer: "If that's what happened, what files were transferred? What files were authenticated?"
She noted that since Secretary Dizon has not seen the documents mentioned by Congressman Leviste, authentication remains impossible.
Echoing Senator Rodante Marcoleta's concerns, Castro warned that unverified information "will just be considered as speculation and gossip and can even be confusing. But if these are true, it can be helpful."
Ongoing Investigation Context
The controversy unfolds amid ongoing investigations into anomalies in flood control projects, with Cabral among those being probed before her untimely death.
Cabral was found dead December 19 beside the Bued River in Tuba, Benguet, 20 to 30 meters below Kennon Road. The Department of Justice was preparing to refer a plunder case involving Cabral to the Ombudsman regarding alleged anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan.
The case, according to Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon, involves DPWH officials in the province and proponents who may have benefited from the controversial projects.
As investigations continue, the call for transparency in how sensitive government documents are handled reflects broader concerns about accountability and proper procedures within government agencies.