Cheyenne Suarez

It is Leviste’s ‘responsibility to prove authenticity’ of ‘Cabral files’ — Malacañang

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — It is Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste’s “responsibility to prove” several budget-related documents allegedly from late Public Works Undersecretary Catalina Cabral are authentic, Malacañang said on Friday.The Palace gave the statement a day after the Batangueño lawmaker dared Castro to check with Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon whether the documents that supposedly list officials who inserted billions of pesos in projects into the 2025 national budget are legitimate.&quot;Why should this representation prove the alleged &#x27;Cabral&#x27;s files&#x27; he claims to possess? He has started bragging about them, so it is his responsibility to prove their authenticity. Why should he shift his responsibility to others?” Castro told Palace reporters in a statement.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/26/lacson-calls-for-probe-on-cabinet-officials-alleged-budget-insertions-1149">Lacson calls for probe into Cabinet officials&#x27; alleged budget insertions </a></div>“We are not even aware if what he is in possession of are mere altered or fabricated documents. So, before anyone speaks and accuses someone, they should substantiate their claims with verified facts and documents,” she said. Castro, a lawyer, said Leviste should not shift the burden of proof of his allegations to others.Leviste earlier claimed the funding for DPWH ballooned to P3.5 trillion in the 2025 budget, adding that several House members and all senators — including his mother Sen. Loren Legarda — were all involved in the insertions of these projects.Some lawmakers have already denied Leviste’s allegations, and urged the Batangas representative to prove the authenticity of the documents he allegedly received from Cabral.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/25/leviste-shares-summary-of-alleged-p3-5-t-dpwh-district-allocations-for-2023-2026-1823">Leviste shares summary of alleged P3.5-T DPWH district allocations for 2023–2026 </a></div>Cabral — who was in charge of the Department of Public Works and Highways annual budget — was found dead near the Bued River in Benguet last week after she supposedly fell off a cliff.

The Palace gave the statement a day after the Batangueño lawmaker dared Castro to check with Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon whether the documents that supposedly list officials who inserted billions of pesos in projects into the 2025 national budget are legitimate.

The Palace gave the statement a day after the Batangueño lawmaker dared Castro to check with Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon whether the documents that supposedly list officials who inserted billions of pesos in projects into the 2025 national budget are legitimate.