Remulla: Authenticity of Cabral files to be known once Ombudsman opens her computer

The authenticity of the files of the late Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral can only be ascertained once her computer and other documents under the Office of the Ombudsman's custody are unsealed, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday.

The files were turned over to the Ombudsman by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) last December 23, 2025 amid the ongoing probe on the government's anomalous flood control projects.

Thereafter, Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste also released batches of supposed Cabral files on December 24 and 25, 2025.

“It was turned over to us by the DPWH, and we'll look into it. Huwag lang magsasabi iyong ibang tao na alam nila yung laman nun. Kasi walang pwedeng magpatunay niyan kundi ‘yung computer mismo ni late Usec Cabral na hawak namin,” Remulla said.

(People cannot say that they know the contents of the late Usec’s files because the only thing that can prove that such is the case is the computer of Usec Cabral, which is with us.)

“At walang pwede magsabi na ‘yung kanila [na kopya] ang tunay, ‘yung iba hindi tunay. Kaya sa akin, ayoko sumama sa usapin na ‘yan kasi hindi dapat pinag-uusapan iyong bagay na talagang ebidensya lang naman [doon sa Cabral files] ang ating titignan,” Remulla added.

(Nobody can say that their copy is authentic, and other copies are not. So I really don’t want to engage in that conversation because we should only look for evidence we can use.)

In an earlier statement, Leviste said that “it is best that we let the DPWH or Ombudsman be the one to release the files to the public, so the files can be authenticated and explained.”

Remulla said the disclosure of the Cabral files need not be a publicity stunt, but should determine if the files indeed have evidence that can stand before the court in prosecuting those involved in the flood control mess.

“Kasi kung ito ay in the aid of publicity, huwag din natin pag-usapan. Ang mahalaga, may katuturan ‘yung pinag-uusapan. Eh ano ba iyong katuturan nito?. E ano ba katuturan ito? Di ba? Kung buhay pa si Cabral at sinabi ni Leviste, hawak ko ‘yung mga dokumento binigay niya (Cabral). E hindi na, wala na si Cabral,” Remulla said.

(If this is in aid of publicity, we should not be discussing this. What matters is that, what is the sense of discussing these documents in public. If Usec Cabral was still alive, and Leviste is saying he is in possession of documents from Cabral’s files, then we can discuss. But Cabral is not around anymore.)

Cabral died last December 18, 2025 following an apparent fall into a ravine in Benguet.

Remulla then suggested that Leviste should instead pinpoint the problems he found with the Cabral files.

“What do we [in the Ombudsman] need to know in those files? He should tell us where we should look at those files. Because he has these files, at bibigyan niya ng duda ‘yung aming pagkatao dito? Sabihin niya kung ano problema,” Remulla said.

(Just because he has these files, he’ll cast doubts on our person? He should identify what problem he wants to address.)

“E bibigyan niya ng [kami ng] motibo na parang wala kaming ginagawa. E araw-araw, nandito lang naman kami. Maraming haharap sa kanya (Leviste) dito. Ang taong nandito, lahat may trabaho, pwede humarap lahat ‘yan.

(As it is, he is speculating on our motives, as if we are not doing anything. We are just here and if he goes into our office, there will be personnel who will face him for discussions. People here all have jobs to do, and they can meet with him.)

Remulla then said that the Cabral files, including a CPU, turned over to the Ombudsman remain sealed to this day because the Ombudsman will still meet with DPWH and Commission on Audit leadership on how to proceed with opening of the files.

"Hindi pa namin ginagalaw [iyong Cabral computer at ibang files]," Remulla said.

(We are yet to open her files. We're still learning the process as to how we are going to open those files, and I will meet with [DPWH] Secretary Vince [Dizon] on Monday next week to talk about it, and I also plan to talk to COA chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba so we can look at it.) 

Leviste earlier said in a statement that Cabral’s counsel, Atty. Mae Divinagracia, already confirmed the authenticity of the Cabral files that he shared when the lawyer said in her interviews that the former DPWH official showed department personnel “a document that’s ostensibly similar to the document that was released by Congressman Leviste” and that some of these documents were about the preparation of the annual budget proposal of the DPWH spanning the years 2023 to 2025, including requests, notes from the Secretary, names of proponents, and tabular list of projects.

“Atty. Divinagracia confirmed the files exist and are with the DPWH. In that respect, we have done our part in letting the public know the files exist, and can now leave it to the DPWH to release the files to the public in the interest of transparency,” Leviste said.—LDF, GMA Integrated News