Photo courtesy of Philippine News Agency (PNA).
The Office of the Ombudsman will subject a computer believed to belong to the late Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral to forensic examination as part of its ongoing review of alleged corruption-linked documents.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the device was turned over to his office by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and will be opened in coordination with other oversight agencies.
Remulla said the forensic process will involve the Commission on Audit (COA) and DPWH, with technical assistance from the cybercrime units of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police.
Malacañang earlier said the verification of documents popularly known as the “Cabral files,” now referred to by Palace officials as the “Leviste files,” has been left to the anti-graft body.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Ombudsman is best placed to authenticate the materials, noting that multiple versions have circulated and some may have been altered or annotated.
The documents allegedly point to budget insertions in public works projects and have been linked to claims by Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste involving P8 billion worth of DPWH undertakings.
Cabral was found dead on December 18 near Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet, months after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered probes into flood control and slope protection projects flagged as anomalous.