Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano – Photo courtesy of Mico Clavano/Facebook.
The Office of the Ombudsman on Monday acknowledged that several sources have come forward claiming to hold copies of the so-called “Cabral files” linked to alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the agency is treating these claims with caution, emphasizing that original documents maintained by agencies or individuals who had custody of the files carry the most credibility.
The Cabral files reportedly came from the late Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral and allegedly connect several high-ranking officials to insertions in the 2025 infrastructure budget.
Clavano noted that soft copies circulated by third parties, particularly in Word or Excel format, can be incomplete, altered, or manipulated, and therefore cannot serve as conclusive evidence.
He explained that evidence obtained directly from the original computers, storage devices, and files has far greater legal weight than secondary copies.
The Ombudsman plans to conduct a digital forensic examination of Cabral’s computer in coordination with the Commission on Audit, the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group.
Clavano clarified that the Cabral files are just one component of a wider investigation into flood control anomalies and stressed that alleged insertions must be verified before being deemed illegal.
“An insertion will only be considered criminal if it is proven to involve fraud, misuse of public funds, or projects that do not exist,” he said, highlighting the need for careful review and verification.
