Ridon Says Leviste May Face Ethics Complaint Over Cabral Files
TERRY RIDON — The House Committee on Public Accounts Chairman said Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste may face a possible ethics complaint over allegations that he illegally obtained the so-called “Cabral files,” which are documents linked to questionable budget allocations in the proposed 2025 national budget. The files were reportedly prepared by Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.
The issue arose after several Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) employees claimed that Leviste forcibly took documents from Cabral’s office on September 4. The agency said Cabral suffered a minor injury during the incident. Photos later circulated showing Leviste inside a DPWH cubicle and using a computer to access files. This contradicts his earlier statement that DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon had authorized him to obtain the documents. DPWH also clarified that Dizon had not personally seen or verified the list of files that Leviste later released.
Ridon stressed that while the contents of the documents raise serious public concerns, the manner in which they were obtained is equally important. He said government records must be accessed only through proper authority, and violating this process may be considered unethical. Such actions, he added, could amount to an abuse of position and a failure to follow legal procedures expected of lawmakers.
Ridon said an ethics complaint may be filed by DPWH personnel, private individuals, or initiated by the House Committee on Ethics itself. He also warned that documents taken outside official procedures may lose credibility, especially if questions arise about their authenticity, completeness, or handling. Since Cabral has already passed away, verifying whether the released files are the same as the originals has become more difficult.
Meanwhile, Leviste denied the allegations, saying he did not illegally obtain any documents. He questioned why the issue was raised months later and said that if there was nothing to hide, the DPWH should release all relevant files to the public.
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