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MANILA, Philippines — Answers surrounding the authenticity of the so-called "Cabral files" now hinge on the Office of the Ombudsman, as questions over the leaked documents persist nearly a month after the death of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said on Monday, January 12, that he will seek permission from the Office of the Ombudsman to make public the documents containing the alleged proponents of budget requests and district allocables over the past years.
"As far as I’m concerned, all of these should be made public," he said at a press conference.
He explained that the records are now part of an ongoing investigation and have been under the Ombudsman’s custody since the DPWH turned them over in compliance with a subpoena on Dec. 23, 2025.
"I promise you, I will ask the Ombudsman this. If the Ombudsman says, 'Fine, okay,' then no problem here," Dizon said.
He added that because the files are under the Ombudsman’s custody, it will be up to the office to decide how the documents will be handled after law enforcement agencies conduct a forensic audit to determine whether any of the files were tampered with.
Dizon also took the chance to announce the designation of DPWH Undersecretary Ricardo Bernabe as the agency's official spokesperson for all legal questions and issues.
"So my response to anyone who requests these files is that I will first inform the Office of the Ombudsman, because they are now the ones with custody of them," Dizon said in Filipino.
Cabral files vs. Leviste files
Echoing the Ombudsman’s position, the DPWH chief said the first step is to establish the contents of Cabral’s files on the preparation of the DPWH budget. Only then can these be compared with the documents disclosed by Rep. Leandro Leviste (Batangas), who has claimed to have obtained official DPWH records showing alleged budget proponents.
The files contain district-level figures generated under Cabral’s "parametric formula," as well as amounts that were later "restored" after Congress allegedly made adjustments at the National Expenditure Program (NEP) stage — a phase in which lawmakers are not supposed to be involved.
They also reportedly include budget requests and what some have described as insertions by officials that fell outside the set "allocables."
While Leviste insisted Dizon had approved his access to the documents, Dizon once again clarified that he had not authorized how they were taken from Cabral’s staff or the agency’s computer system.
"'Yung pagkuha ng files, na nakita niyo naman na nilabas ng dating staff ni dating undersecretary Cabral at 'yung pagkuha ng files sa isang computer, walang basbas sa akin 'yun. Uulitin ko ‘yun. Paulit-ulit ko sasabihin ‘yun," he said.
(The way the files were taken, which you saw was shown by the former staff of former undersecretary Cabral, and the taking of files from a computer, was done without my approval. I will repeat that. I will say it over and over again.)
The only thing he authorized the release of was the "allocations per district," which he said can be found in the NEP and General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Leviste, however, is also under fire over how he obtained the documents. Some DPWH officials claim he forcibly took the files from Cabral’s office and the agency’s computer, while the congressman insists he had authorization from both Cabral and Dizon.
Cabral’s legal counsel also said the late undersecretary did not explain how Leviste came into possession of the documents, only confirming that he had obtained them. This, however, is a different investigation altogether.
"On that note, it is now up to the ombudsman and our law enforcement agencies to establish the veracity of these files and the authenticity of these files," Dizon said.
No issue to make files public
Despite ongoing controversies over budget requests, Dizon said the DPWH still expects proposals for roads, bridges, classrooms, hospitals and other infrastructure projects as it prepares the 2027 budget.
He reiterated, however, that there should be no issue with the public knowing who requested which projects and where.
"But I think the only issue with the past is there are questions as to the veracity of those lists. That’s why they are now the subject of the investigation," Dizon added.
"So let me talk to the Ombudsman about it. I, personally, have no issue with it. In fact, all documents should be disclosed," he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Asked about the 2026 budget documents, Dizon said he would confirm with the planning division whether a list of district allocables or requests exists. "If there’s a list with planning, I don't think there’s an issue there," he added.
The DPWH announced on Monday its plans and priorities, including a revamp of how the agency prepares, monitors and implements its budget with help from civil society groups to ensure transparency.
The agency also unveiled plans to develop a new formula for allocating infrastructure budgets in the coming years and confirmed it will scrap the parametric formula that previously allowed district allocables.
