MANILA, Philippines — Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Monday, January 19, 2026, opposed the plan of Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste to release the contents of the so-called “Cabral files” during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, saying such disclosure in that forum would be improper and would not follow the agreed process for handling the documents.
Marcoleta said the “Cabral files,” which authorities retrieved from the late Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, allegedly contain budget data listing DPWH projects and corresponding funds allocated to various legislative districts for the years 2023 to 2026.
He stated that the Senate panel has not yet fully examined or completed the validation of the entire set of documents that compose the “Cabral files.”
The senator added that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee must first determine the authenticity, completeness, and relevance of the “Cabral files” before any lawmaker publicly discloses their contents in a hearing.
He explained that the committee has procedures for receiving, cataloging, and evaluating documentary evidence, and he stressed that Leviste should comply with these internal rules before making any release.
Marcoleta maintained that the committee aims to establish a clear record of how infrastructure funds moved from national appropriations to specific projects in districts from 2023 to 2026.
He said the Blue Ribbon Committee will schedule further hearings to allow DPWH officials, budget officers, and lawmakers to respond to any entries that appear in the “Cabral files.”
