House InfraComm to seek copies of ‘Cabral files’ from DPWH

The House Infrastructure Committee (InfraComm), the tri-committee body previously investigating the flood control corruption scandal before it was taken over by the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), will request for copies of the files of late Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“Ngayon sasabihin ko na we will request it [Cabral files] from the DPWH… we will ask for copies of it next week,” House InfraComm co-chair Bicol-Saro Partylist Rep. Terry Ridon said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

(Now, I am disclosing that we will request it from the DPWH…. we will ask for copies of it next week.)

Ridon said that the DPWH still probably has its own copies of the Cabral’s files after they were turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman last December 23, 2025 amid the ongoing probe into the alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

“If they were able to give to the Ombudsman, I don’t think there is any reason to not give to the House Infrastructure Committee and to the House Public Accounts Committee,” he said.

The House InfraComm is composed of the public works, good government, and public accounts panels.

Ridon explained that requesting for copies of the so-called Cabral files was not aimed at debunking the supposed copies released publicly in batches by Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste.

“We just want to get it as part of our files… since the hearing of the House Infrastructure Committee is currently suspended… at least the committee is still doing coordination with various offices,” the lawmaker said.

The Bicol-Saro representative added it is important for the House InfraComm to get copies of the files in the event that the tri-committee body revives its proceedings into the flood control corruption controversy by the time when the ICI gets dissolved.

However, he said that “as long as ICI subsists, the House will recuse.”

'Authentic copies'

During the forum, Senior Citizens Partylist Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes also stressed the importance of the House getting “authentic” copies of the Cabral files so that it cannot be used to malign any members of the lower chamber.

Ordanes also denied allegations made by Leviste that his partylist was the fourth in the list that received the highest amount of insertions in the DPWH budget.

“Hindi ako dikit ng dating chairman ng appropriations ng Congress at wala akong kinakapitan na malaking pulitiko na sinasandalan. Ako ay congressman lang ng sektor na senior citizens partylist,” Ordanes said.

Meanwhile, Ridon said that the House is awaiting if the DPWH leadership of the staff of the late undersecretary Cabral will file an ethics complaint against Leviste over allegations that he illegally acquired the files.

In a report by GMA Integrated News, several DPWH personnel said Cabral suffered paper cuts and bled after Leviste allegedly forcibly took documents from her hand, and without authority, used and copied files from a computer in a DPWH office. —VAL, GMA Integrated News