Metro Manila, Philippines – Neophyte lawmaker Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste may be the subject of an ethics complaint as questions pile up as to how he obtained the files of the late Public Works Undersecretary Catalina Cabral, a lawmaker said on Tuesday, Dec. 30.
In a press statement, House committee on public accounts chairperson Terry Ridon said unlawful acquisition of documents merit scrutiny under congressional ethics proceedings.
A TV report released on Monday cited a staff of the Department of Public Works and Highways accusing Leviste of forcibly securing the files of Cabral at the agency’s office in Manila.
A camera footage obtained by NewsWatch Plus showed Leviste entering Cabral’s office on Sept. 4. A separate footage showed the two talking in the hallway of the DPWH.
“From the very beginning, Rep. Leviste has insisted that he had full authority from DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon to acquire relevant documents from former DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral. It is on this supposed authority that the credibility of his entire disclosures is built. However, this supposed authority has been flatly rejected by Secretary Dizon himself,” Ridon said.
“What is unraveling today is not the acquisition of the Cabral files based on official authority, but the acquisition of documents based on an unlawful taking by Rep. Leviste,” he added.
The lawmaker said authorities should not allow the House “to become a venue where evidence is sourced through questionable means and then laundered into legitimacy through publicity.”
Leviste earlier tagged Ridon in the supposed P150-million insertions in the current budget for road projects in Camarines Sur based on the alleged Cabral files. Ridon denied the accusation.
Acquisition ‘not illegal’
Meanwhile, Leviste defended himself on Tuesday, Dec. 30, maintaining that he did not illegally obtain Cabral’s files.
“The timing of the DPWH saying this now about an event months ago is suspect, and only raises questions on why DPWH doesn’t just release all the files if there’s nothing to hide,” he said in a statement.
Leviste has been releasing unverified documents – mostly legislative breakdowns of the DPWH budget – since the sudden death of Cabral, a key figure in the flood control corruption probe.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano earlier said their office sought a complete list of the so-called Cabral files from Leviste, but the lawmaker allegedly refused and only showed investigators a limited portion of the list.
The DPWH turned over Cabral’s files and computer to the office of the ombudsman on Dec. 23, subject for examination.
