What's in the Cabral Files? Leviste discusses alleged DPWH anomalies on KMJS

On December 21, three days after the discovery of a body believed to be that of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Catalina Cabral, Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste revealed at a press conference that he was in possession of documents and information allegedly originating from Cabral.

The documents, now dubbed as the Cabral Files, allegedly detail irregular and anomalous flood control projects, as well as the officials and contractors linked to them. The files could help expose long-suspected corruption in government, as they allegedly show how large portions of the national budget are allocated to public works projects.

In an interview on "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,” Leviste claimed he discovered more than P700 billion worth of projects listed in the DPWH’s National Expenditure Program, with proponents indicated in nearly all of them. He said these records are officially documented within the DPWH.

He added that both congressmen and senators were involved in pushing for these projects.

Leviste said Senator Panfilo Lacson had also previously mentioned that several cabinet secretaries were among those linked to the allocations. According to him, the files list lawmakers, cabinet officials, private individuals, and contractors, and copies of the documents allegedly exist within the DPWH.

Of the P700 billion, Leviste said around P401 billion was allocable to district congressmen, while the remaining P320 billion involved senators, party-list representatives, cabinet officials, undersecretaries, and individuals identified through codenames. He also cited a P150 million amendment, including party-list allocations, which he said translates to an average of P1.6 billion per district congressman.

Leviste also claimed, “Ako po may personal experience na inalok ako ng karagdagang pondo para sa aking distrito ng isa sa mga kababayan ko. At kaya ko nga po nilabas ang iba pang ebidensya kasama na po ang listing mula sa file ni Usec. Cabral ng di-umanong pre-ordering ng mahigit P20 billion ng mga kontrata ng isang congressman na kababayan ko.”

["I was offered additional funds for my district. That is why I brought out other pieces of evidence, including the list from Usec. Cabral’s file regarding the alleged pre-ordering of over P20 billion worth of contracts by a congressman who is also from my district."]

The files also allegedly show that contractors awarded projects were the same ones who submitted project lists to the DPWH.

As an example, Leviste pointed to more than P20 billion worth of projects listed in November, when Cabral was still alive, which he said were largely connected to Batangas Congressman Edwin Gardiola, whom he described as the biggest DPWH proponent at present.

“Ito po ay binunyag na rin sa mga Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings na ‘pag lumabas pa lang sa NEP may advance na. Pero ang dinadagdag ko lang po ay may pruweba sa DPWH at kung bubuksan lang po ito, mas marami pang mga malalaking isda, as they call it, ang mahuhuli,” Leviste said.

["This has already been revealed in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings, that once it comes out in the NEP, there’s already an advance. But what I’m adding is that there’s evidence within the DPWH, and if this is opened, even more big fish, as they call it, will be caught."]

Back in August, a DPWH district engineer was arrested for allegedly bribing Leviste with P3 million to stop the investigation into anomalies in flood control projects in his district.

The following month, Leviste said he met with Cabral to request district-level budget data and learn more about alleged budget insertions within the DPWH. He said he intended to use this as evidence to trace the proponents and launch an investigation.

“Hindi ko na-imagine na ganitong kalaki ang budget sa DPWH. Kasi bagong halal pa lang po ako, nag-request na ako ng ganitong data in May. And then I first visited Usec. Cabral's office with a meeting for exactly this purpose on June 11,” Leviste said.

[“I didn’t imagine that the budget of the DPWH was this big. Because I had just been newly elected, I already requested this kind of data in May. Then I first visited Usec. Cabral’s office for a meeting for exactly this purpose on June 11.”]

Leviste also learned that in his district, the asphalt overlay project is priced at twice its actual cost, while the streetlights are priced at four times their actual cost. He also learned that projects where contractors or congressmen receive income are prioritized.

How authentic are the Cabral Files?

Questions have been raised about the authenticity of the Cabral Files, which Leviste addressed during the interview.

“Unang una po, ‘yung argument na inauthentic is disproven by their own allegation na unauthorized kong nakuha 'yung file. Kasi kung sinasabi nila yun, ibig sabihin talagang nanggaling sa kanila 'yung pinapakita kong file,” Leviste said.

[“First of all, the argument that it’s inauthentic is disproven by their own allegation that I obtained the file without authorization. Because if they’re saying that, it means the file I’m showing really did come from them.”]

Secondly, Leviste said the files are from the DPWH and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism uploaded them in November.

“’Yun po ay patunay na dumaan na rin po sa fact-checking ng ibang mga outlets ang file na ito.”

[“That is proof that this file has already undergone fact-checking by other outlets as well.”]

Leviste was also rumored to have forcibly taken the documents from Usec. Cabral, which resulted in a paper cut. He denies this.

“Wala po akong inagaw ng dokumento kay Usec. Cabral. I vehemently deny ‘yung mga allegations,” he said. “And I'm thankful actually to GMA News for releasing the CCTV footage ng DPWH kung saan makikita man natin na maayos kami maglalakad ni Usec. Cabral hawak ko yung dokumento, pinag-uusapan namin sa hallway ng DPWH.”

[“I did not steal any document from Usec. Cabral. I vehemently deny those allegations. And I’m actually thankful to GMA News for releasing the CCTV footage from the DPWH, where we can see that Usec. Cabral and I were walking properly, I was holding the document, and we were talking about it in the hallway of the DPWH.”]

While in Cabral’s office, Leviste said she spoke with DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon on speakerphone, during which Dizon allegedly committed to releasing all available documents in the interest of transparency. Leviste said he suggested making the files public.

Leviste revealed that he is pressured to not release the list and has been receiving threats. There are also friends of his mother, Senator Loren Legarda, who have been gaslighting him about the files.

“At lalo nga po nalulungkot ako na wala naman po akong personal interest sa paglalabas nito. At in fact malaki na nga po ang sacrifice ko at pati mga ibang nagsasalita sa inyong show tungkol sa pagbunyag ng mga practice na ito.”

[“And I’m even more saddened because I have no personal interest in releasing this. In fact, I have already made significant sacrifices, as have others who have spoken on your show about exposing these practices.”]

MOOE

Leviste also pointed to the increase in the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) allocated to congressmen in the 2025 budget, noting that it rose from ?10 billion last year to nearly ?27.7 billion this year.

The MOOE is the budget used by government offices meant for operations, transportation, and other administrative needs. This is used even without liquidation or receipts, which is why the issue of transparency is raised.

Based on the budget figures, Leviste said each congressman effectively has access to around P58 million in MOOE annually. He detailed additional releases throughout the year, which he said could amount to roughly P20 million per congressman on top of salaries.

He added that lawmakers also receive extra funds for items such as feeding programs, but said there is no publicly available breakdown of how MOOE funds are used.

“’Yung importante sa akin Ma'am, malaman ng publiko ang katotohanan. Pero kaya nati-trigger ako na magsalita kasi ayoko na pinalalabas na successful na tayo sa ating anti-corruption investigation dahil may ilang mga contractor na nahuli. Kasi alam naman po nating dalawa na 100 times more pa ng mga hindi pa nahuli,” he added.

[“What’s important to me, Ma’am, is for the public to know the truth. But what triggered me to speak up is that I don’t want it to appear that we’re already successful in our anti-corruption investigation just because a few contractors were caught. Because both of us know that there are still many more who haven’t been caught yet.”]

—JCB, GMA Integrated News