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Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson revealed that Senator Loren Legarda messaged him and asked him to give advise to her son, Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste.  Photos from Lacson Team and Loren Legarda/Facebook

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Leviste confirms seeking meeting with Lacson, denies “crying” to mom

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768472724337rack.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson revealed that Senator Loren Legarda messaged him and asked him to give advise to her son, Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste.  Photos from Lacson Team and Loren Legarda/Facebook</div>MANILA — Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste confirmed on Thursday that he had requested to meet with Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairperson Sen. Panfilo Lacson to seek guidance on what to do with the so-called Cabral files.The files allegedly contained a list of 2025 infrastructure allocations, and their proponents, which the late public works undersecretary Maria Catalina &quot;Cathy&quot; Cabral supposedly held.Leviste, however, denied crying to his mother, Senator Loren Legarda following the “backlash” he received over his statements on the alleged Cabral files.“&quot;Umiiyak daw&quot; ako sa mom ko, lilinawin ko lang po na hindi ito totoo,” he told ABS-CBN News in a message.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/15/loren-taps-lacson-to-advise-her-son-lean-leviste-1249">Loren taps Lacson to advise her son Lean Leviste</a></div>“The reason my mom talked to Senator Lacson is that she knows I will listen to him more than her. Because what he is doing exposing corruption is an example that more in government should emulate,” Leviste added.“Dahil si Senator Lacson actually ang unang nagbunyag na members of the 19th Congress had allocables in the DPWH budget, and &quot;at least 5 cabinet secretaries, and undersecretaries, had allocables in the &#x27;Cabral Files&#x27;&quot;, which I also confirm are in my copy of the files,” he noted.“I have exchanged messages with Senator Lacson and am thankful for his support. I appreciate that the Senate and House are issuing subpoenas for the &quot;Cabral Files&quot;. This will ensure there will be no questions on the authenticity of the files, and hopefully the public will then know how the DPWH budget was spent,” Leviste said.Lacson revealed on Wednesday that Senator Loren Legarda messaged him and asked him to give advice to her son.“Nag-message nga sa akin si Senator Legarda. Sabi niya kung puwedeng ma-advise-an to at least calm down a little. In fact nag-a-arrange nga ng meeting si Congressman Leviste with me... ‘Yun ang request ni Senator Legarda kasi nga, dumadaing daw sa kanya. Sabi niya, ‘Bakit si Senator Lacson ganoon din naman ang ginagawa, bakit ako ganitong katindi yung balik sa akin?’” Lacson shared.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/15/energy-chief-says-action-vs-leviste-firm-not-related-to-cabral-files-1055">&#x27;It&#x27;s so unfair&#x27;: DOE chief says fine, contract termination vs Leviste firm unrelated to &#x27;Cabral files&#x27;</a></div>“Umiiyak daw kay Senator Legarda. ‘Bakit ako? Bakit ganito yung paninira nila sa akin? Eh alam ko si Senator Ping dumaan din siya sa ganyan.’ Pero mas matindi raw yung balik sa kanya,” he added.

Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste confirmed on Thursday that he had requested to meet with Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairperson Sen. Panfilo Lacson to seek guidance on what to do with the so-called Cabral files.

Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste confirmed on Thursday that he had requested to meet with Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairperson Sen. Panfilo Lacson to seek guidance on what to do with the so-called Cabral files.

Leviste confirms seeking meeting with Lacson, denies 'crying' to mom

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Leviste confirms seeking meeting with Lacson, denies 'crying' to mom

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 15, 2026 06:33 PM PHT

Read More:

Leandro Leviste

House of Representatives

Cabral files

Corruption

Loren Legarda

Ping Lacson

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