Statement of Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste/Facebook, Dec. 21, 2025
Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste said former Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral personally gave him files listing proponents of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget insertions nationwide.
In a statement on Sunday, Leviste said the documents were turned over to him on September 4 after then newly appointed DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon instructed Cabral to release them in the interest of transparency.
The lawmaker said he has since received repeated calls for the public disclosure of the files following Cabral’s death.
However, Leviste said he would wait for the official position of the DPWH before releasing the documents.
He said he could disclose parts of the list only to the extent allowed by his role in Congress, as he had done previously in November.
Leviste said the documents were already shown to the Independent Commission on Infrastructure on November 18 and 19 and later to the Office of the Ombudsman on November 26.
According to him, the Ombudsman said the files would be helpful in ongoing investigations into alleged irregularities in infrastructure projects.
Leviste said the release of the documents would have far-reaching consequences because they allegedly identify proponents of flood control and other DPWH projects across the government.
He said the list includes not only members of Congress but also Executive officials, including secretaries and undersecretaries outside DPWH, as well as private individuals.
In light of recent developments, Leviste said his immediate concern is ensuring the safety of DPWH personnel who may hold copies of the files and the preservation of all related documents.