Malacañang on Wednesday brushed aside allegations that some Cabinet secretaries were proponents of the controversial 2025 infrastructure budget insertions, saying the claims were unsubstantiated.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro issued the statement in response to assertions earlier made by Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste.
Leviste had claimed that documents he allegedly received from the late DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral supported his allegations.
Castro said the Palace would limit its response to materials officially verified by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
“The Palace will only respond to the documents authenticated by DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways’),” Castro said.
“Other th[a]n these, they will all be considered as hearsay or tsismis which have no probative value,” she added.
Leviste earlier alleged that the documents identified high-ranking officials, including supposed Cabinet members, as proponents of the questioned budget insertions.
He said the records were turned over to him on September 4, prior to the controversy becoming public.
Cabral, who was also linked to the budget issue, later died after reportedly falling from a slope along Kennon Road on December 19.
The Palace has maintained that only authenticated documents will be considered in addressing the allegations.
