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MANILA, Philippines — There is still no clear confirmation on whether Rep. Leandro Leviste lawfully obtained or forcibly took files on the infrastructure budget proponents and district allocables, even from the legal counsel of the late Public Works undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.
Cabral’s counsel, Mae Divinagracia, only said in her interviews that Cabral did not discuss with her or during the Ombudsman’s fact-finding investigation the details on how Leviste obtained a copy of the files he revealed he had in December.
Divinagracia carefully phrased her response over ANC’s Headstart, saying Cabral only confirmed that Leviste had “obtained documents from her office.”
She did not say Cabral gave the documents or that Leviste received them directly from the late undersecretary.
These documents, the counsel confirmed Monday, contained budget requests to the DPWH, notes from former Secretary Manuel Bonoan, names of some individuals who proposed amounts and the “district allocables.”
But Divinagracia also said, “For prudence’s sake, [Cabral] could not authenticate the document until she is presented with the actual document that is with Congressman Leviste.”
In other words, Cabral was unable to verify whether the documents she had matched those of Leviste’s. It also sounds as if she did not personally give the documents to the congressman.
Is 'obtained' the same as 'given'?
However, Leviste insisted over a separate ANC interview, that Divinagracia’s use of the word “obtained” means the same as being “given” the documents.
“Actually, I think she did use the word obtained, which means the same as given, because they were, as I said, with the authorization of Secretary Vince Dizon, given by Usec. Cabral to me,” he said on Tuesday, January 6.
Since he released portions of the document he calls the “Cabral files,” he claimed to have received Cabral’s blessing in obtaining the documents and that DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon authorized it as well.
Dizon, however, refuted Leviste’s claim in late December 2025, saying he did not authenticate any document because he had not seen the copy Leviste had himself.
Some staff also alleged he forcibly took copies of the files straight from the DPWH’s computer instead of waiting to be given them.
What Cabral's counsel said
Philstar.com reached out to Divinagracia to clarify whether her statements confirmed that Leviste lawfully obtained the documents during his Sept. 4, 2025 visit to Cabral’s office in the DPWH.
“I never made any such confirmation,” she said in an email exchange.
“It would be best if the question is addressed to those who actually witnessed the incident,” she added.
Divinagracia further explained that while Cabral “does know what documents he took,” the late undersecretary could not ascertain whether Leviste’s copies were the same without reviewing the documents themselves.
It would be “reckless” for her to hastily confirm so, she added, pointing out how Leviste only released portions of the alleged documents after Cabral died.
“Before then, he would just allege that he is in possession of documents from the DPWH without showing the document, let alone giving particulars,” Divinagracia said.
When Leviste was asked in the interview if Cabral had any reason to fear him, the congressman also sidestepped the question, saying he thinks the opposite.
“She would have more reason to fear the people who would have more leverage on her to testify that I have taken it forcibly, because they don’t want this to be released to the public,” Leviste said.
While he acknowledged that Divinagracia said Cabral did not specify whether the documents were forcibly taken, he used her statement to maintain that claims he did so are “untrue” and merely a “diversion from the real information.”
Simply put, Divinagracia’s statements neither confirm that Leviste lawfully obtained the files nor prove that they were taken forcibly. Only investigators can piece together the facts and determine what actually happened, rather than leaving it as a he-said, she-said dispute.
What's new?
Several previously unreported details emerged from Cabral’s counsel. She confirmed that some of Cabral’s files showed the proponents in the DPWH budget and that the “parametric formula” Cabral had developed under Bonan’s instruction was meant to calculate the “district allowables.”
Divinagracia, however, also revealed that Cabral had informed her of how the House leadership refused to comply with the formula that significantly reduced district funds. Instead, the chamber made adjustments, which were allegedly sent by former Rep. Elizaldy Co’s office.
Cabral died on Dec. 19, 2025 after falling into a ravine along Kennon Road in Benguet.
But ever since her death sparked more controversy into the flood control and budget scandal, government agencies have been taking it slow in authenticating the alleged “Cabral files,” or figuring out how Leviste actually got some copies.
