Dizon: I have not authenticated the so-called Cabral files

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon said that he has not authenticated any document in the possession of Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste.

"For the record, wala akong ina-authenticate na dokumento na hawak ni Cong. dahil wala akong, hindi ko nakikita kung anong sinasabi niyang dokumento. So paano ko maa-authenticate yon?" Dizon told GMA Integrated News in a phone interview.

(For the record, I have not authenticated any document in the possession of Cong. [Leviste], because I have yet to see the documents he was talking about. So how can I authenticate them?)

In an online interview earlier today, Leviste said Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro should confirm with Dizon the veracity of the files he uploaded on his social media page, which he said came from the DPWH and former DPWH undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.

"Wala pong dahilan na mag-cast doubt si Usec Castro sa in-upload kong data. AND I'm sorry to say this, but I think she will make a fool of herself because Secretary Vince and others in DPWH and others in Congress will confirm the authenticity of the files that I've uploaded," Leviste said.

Copied files

The lawmaker said he got the files as early as September, even before the passing of Cabral, following a fatal fall in a ravine in Benguet on December 19.

“I got the documents after Usec. Cabral had a phone call with [DPWH] Secretary Vince. And I talked with Secretary Vince about this being released to the public. And Sec. Vince said he agrees. I thought that Sec Vince was going to release this to the public in September and at the very least give it to the ICI and the Ombudsman,” he added.

But Dizon said Leviste forcibly got a copy of the files from Cabral's office in September.

"Nagpilit siyang kumuha ng mga files at ginamit pa niya ‘yung computer ng isang staff. Lahat ito kinukuwento sa akin ni Usec. Cabral nung nangyari at pinilit niyang mag-save ng mga files…sa kanyang flash drive gaing doon sa computer ng isang staff.  Iyong ang nangyari noong September," Dizon said.

(He forcibly got a copy of the files by using the computer of a staff member. This was narrated by Usec. Cabral to me after he [Leviste] saved the files to his flash drive from the computer of a staff member.)

Asked if Leviste was throwing his weight around, Dizon said, "Yes. That was the impression I got."

'Can't imagine Dizon would lie'

Replying to Dizon, Leviste maintained Dizon knew about the files.  He also said it was "not true" that he forcibly got a copy of the documents and saved them in his flash drive.

"I can't imagine that Sec. Dizon would lie like that, because there are other part of my discussions with Sec. Vince, when Sec. Vince said to release the files to me in the interest of transparency.  Although he was just a few days on the job when he said this," Leviste said in a statement of GMA Integrated News.

Leviste also said he has not shared the files with anyone, "but they seem to have recently been given" to a news website.

"I thought given by Sec. Vince or his people.  I thought that confirmed they want the files released," he added.

The DPWH has turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman the computer Cabral used, as well as the files she kept in her office.

Dizon said it is up to the Ombudsman to analyze and authenticate these.

"For the record, kaya nga ang ginawa ng DPWH ngayon, noong pinadalhan tayo ng subpoena ng Ombudsman, pinadala natin lahat ng files ni Usec. Cabral at yung kanyang mga computer sa Ombudsman," Dizon said.

(What the DPWH did when we received the subpoena of the Ombudsman was to send all the files of Usec. Cabral and her computers to the Ombudsman.)

"Nandoon na sa Ombudsman at Ombudsman na ang bahalang mag-analyze, mag-authenticate, at tumingin ng mga dokumentong yan dahil kasama na siya sa mga isinumite natin base sa subpoena na nakuha natin galing sa Ombudsman," he added.

(They're now with the Omibudsman, and it's now up to the Ombudsman to analyze, authenticate, and examine the documents, which we submitted based on the Ombudsman's subpoena.)—LDF, GMA Integrated News