MANILA, Philippines- Investigators from the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday, Dec. 29, sought access in Quezon City to documents known as the “Cabral files” from Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, but the lawmaker allowed them to view only selected portions and withheld the complete set, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said.
Clavano said the Ombudsman coordinated with Leviste after the congressman claimed he possessed documents attributed to the late Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary that could be relevant to ongoing corruption probes.
He said the investigators went to verify and examine the materials and to secure them as possible evidence for administrative and criminal cases under the Ombudsman’s authority.
According to Clavano, Leviste showed certain documents and permitted inspectors to view specific pages he identified but did not provide access to the full collection.
He said the Ombudsman considered the access partial because investigators could not determine the completeness, context, or total scope of the files based on the limited material shown.
Clavano said the team documented the visit, noted which documents and pages were examined, and submitted a report to the Office of the Ombudsman for evaluation.
He said the Ombudsman is now considering legal options to obtain full access to the documents, including the possible issuance of formal orders or subpoenas under existing procedures.
Clavano said the files are being treated as potential evidence in cases that may involve the DPWH and government projects linked to the late undersecretary’s tenure.
He added that the Ombudsman will compare the viewed portions with other records, including contracts, project reports, and audit findings, to assess their evidentiary value.
Clavano said the Ombudsman will issue further statements or directives after reviewing the investigators’ report.
