Leviste faces possible ethics complaint over Cabral files, says Ridon

MANILA, Philippines — Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste may be in hot water over how he came into possession of the alleged files of the deceased former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Catalina Cabral, according to Bicol Saro Partylist Rep. Terry Ridon on Tuesday, December 30. 

Leviste came forth with shocking allegations of budget insertions against several politicians based on files he allegedly obtained from Cabral—including Ridon’s partylist. 

The young released portions of the files after Cabral fell to her death in Baguio earlier in December. 

While Leviste has claimed that he obtained the files with DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon’s permission, the latter has denied this claim. An unnamed DPWH worker also told GMA News that Leviste forcibly took the files from Cabral, and she was injured in the process. 

Now, Ridon said that Leviste must account for how he obtained the files. 

“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. 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,” Ridon said. 

“We cannot allow the House to become a venue where evidence is sourced through questionable means and then laundered into legitimacy through publicity,” Ridon added. 

Ridon also said that acquiring evidence outside of lawful channels and reproducing informally can compromise how reliable the evidence is, as it raises questions about its authenticity. Thus, allegations of unlawful acquisition warrant congressional ethics proceedings, the lawmaker said.