By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
Malacañang on Wednesday dismissed as mere “hearsay” claims that some Cabinet secretaries were allegedly included in a list of proponents of the multibillion-peso budget insertions for infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
In a text message, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said such allegations have “no probative value” unless backed by authenticated documents.
Castro said unofficial channels should not be given credence without proper verification, stressing that due process and official validation are necessary before the Palace can respond to such claims.
“The Palace will only respond to documents authenticated by the DPWH,” she said.
“Other than these, they will all be considered hearsay or tsismis, which have no probative value,” Castro added.
Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste earlier claimed that the late DPWH undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral had given him documents on Sept. 4 containing the names of high-ranking officials, including Cabinet secretaries, who were allegedly listed as proponents involved in the agency’s budget insertions.
Leviste said the files were shown to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure on Nov. 18 and 19, and to the Office of the Ombudsman on Nov. 26.
Leviste’s revelation came following the death of Cabral, who fell into a ravine in Benguet on Dec. 18.
It could be recalled that Cabral was accused by former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo of being a key figure in the agency’s financial planning.
Cabral resigned on Sept. 16 after being mired in controversy.
