Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767145408680Screen Shot 2025-12-31 at 9.42.24 AM_cropped_processed_by_imagy.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Neophyte congressman Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste. ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Following reports of neophyte congressman Leandro Leviste forcibly getting access to files from the office of the late Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral in Manila, former employees have come out and alleged that his team also tried to do the same back in August at the Batangas 1st District Engineering Office.</p><p>Speaking to ABS-CBN News, “Carlotta”, not her real name, said about 20 to 30 individuals who introduced themselves as Leviste’s staff and were wearing shirts bearing his name, came to their office last August 1, 2025 to ask for procurement documents.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/30/dizon-denies-baseless-and-malicious-leviste-claims-on-allocables-0940">Dizon denies ‘baseless and malicious’ Leviste claims on ‘allocables’</a></div><p>As part of usual protocol, they were told to write a formal request, especially considering that their boss, District Engineer Abelardo Calalo at that time was not around, and it was already past 6 in the evening or after office hours.</p><p>“Isang batalyon ang dumating doon. Hindi talaga namin sila payagan. Sabi namin bigyan kami ng request, i-request nila yung kailangan na documents at kami na mismo magbibigay sa kanila kahit ano documents ang hingin nila. Nagpupumilit itong si tao niya,” she said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;LIKE THEY OWNED THE PLACE&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Carlotta said one of Leviste’s staff went ahead and made a quick call to the DE. While Calalo approved the request, Carlotta said he would later admit that he did not expect Leviste’s staff to actually be the ones to go in and search through all the documents themselves.</p><p>“Nagulat siya talaga. Hindi naman niya ine-expect na ganun ang gagawin na pagkukunin lahat ng mga folder ng projects namin, pagbubuklatin at pipicturan nila lahat,” she said.</p><p>Another witness said he did not think the staff members even had the technical expertise to understand the documents they were rifling through, but he said they acted like they owned the place.</p><p>“Ang dating, parang, lugar nila yung ginagalawan nila. Minsan medyo nagtatawanan, hindi mo maiiwasan naglalaro,” he said.</p><p>According to Carlotta, the documents were not removed from the office but were photographed page by page. Because they had no control over where the images might be sent or forwarded, there were concerns that signatures or other details could be altered.</p><p>“Wala naman kaming tinatago pero ang nangyari, kung sino sino kumuha, nagsalin salin sila. Di namin alam kung anong gagawin nila dyan, i-edit ba nila yan… na pwede kaming gawan nang mali,” she said.</p><p>Both witnesses said while they wrote an incident report afterwards, they no longer made a bigger fuss over it out of fear that the lawmaker would get back at them. They said that even after that day, Leviste and his team would constantly keep checking up on their activities and continue to ask for more documents.</p><p>“Meron nang naka-stasyon doon na tao ni Cong, dalawa, tatlo,” they said.</p><p>They said they even brought the issue up with Leviste himself.</p><p>“Naikwento namin na, Cong. ang daming tao niyong kumuha ng documents dito. Tapos parang tumatawa siya, “Ah, madami ba?” (sabi niya),” recalled one of the witnesses.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;THEY AGREED&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>In response, Leviste insisted that these activities were all done with proper authorization and cooperation of the DPWH.</p><p>“Kung meron mga nagrereklamo, please note the context that we are investigating them for corruption and I have filed a case on the former District Engineer and our findings are that almost all the projects of the district are substandard meaning most of the staff would have some criminal liability,” he said in a text message to ABS-CBN News.</p><p>Leviste added that when he asked his staff about the incident, she replied: &quot;They agreed to let us access the documents. Takot lang sila kasi we were investigating them for corruption (including bid rigging) and nakulong iyung District Engineer nila.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/31/ridon-says-leviste-may-face-ethics-complaint-over-alleged-illegal-acquisition-of-cabral-files-0001">Ridon says Leviste may face ethics complaint over alleged illegal acquisition of Cabral files</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dfzyGZ9MgRo?si=HiqzQbFqg1AeIyqU" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Following reports of Rep. Leandro Leviste forcibly getting access to files from the office of the late DPWH Usec. Maria Catalina Cabral in Manila, former employees have come out and alleged that his team also tried to do the same back in August at the Batangas 1st District Engineering Office.</p>

Following reports of Rep. Leandro Leviste forcibly getting access to files from the office of the late DPWH Usec. Maria Catalina Cabral in Manila, former employees have come out and alleged that his team also tried to do the same back in August at the Batangas 1st District Engineering Office.

DPWH employees claim Leviste camp also tried to forcibly access files in Batangas office

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DPWH employees claim Leviste camp also tried to forcibly access files in Batangas office

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 31, 2025 09:49 AM PHT

Read More:

Leandro Leviste

DPWH

Batangas 1st District Engineering Office

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