Ping warns Palace of cover-up perceptions in ‘Cabral files’MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has urged Malacañang not to downplay the possible role of Cabinet officials in the anomalous practice of inserting lawmakers’ infrastructure projects for kickbacks in the executive’s spending plan. Leviste said he obtained a list of proponents behind the budget insertions from the late DPWH undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral. Lacson urged the government not to downplay the incident and ignore public furor over the entrenched corruption that has long hounded DPWH projects. Leviste’s limited and partial release of the so-called Cabral files is welcome. “He (Leviste) says the Cabral files hold information on everyone – party-lists, senators, Malacañang officials and the like,” he added.

Source: Philippine Star December 26, 2025 16:34 UTC