As Filipino families prepare for their Media Noche, the controversy over the so-called “Cabral Files” shows no signs of letting up. Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) continue to exchange barbs on the issue, keeping the debate alive even as the year ends.

On Tuesday, Leviste called on the investigators of the flood control anomalies to disclose any ties they may have with contractors. He specifically pointed to a ₱P11.5-billion New Clark City project when DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon had headed the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) as its CEO from 2016 to 2021.

Leviste noted that the Malaysian firm Alloy MTD, contracted for the River Park flood control project, used Lourel Development Corporation — a company owned by Rep. Edwin Gardiola’s family — as a subcontractor. Gardiola is currently being investigated by the DPWH under Dizon.

Leviste shared a Facebook post showing Dizon at a construction site with Alloy MTD and Lourel officials, discussing biodiversity at the National Riverpark Corridor. 

“I hope Sec. Vince will forgive me for this, but I need to respond to his statement that there was no basis for BCDA having had a flood control project,” Leviste said. 

He stressed that the public deserves to know about any interactions between the investigators and those under investigation.

Earlier, Dizon denied any wrongdoing, insisting that there were no “insertions” or “allocables” under the BCDA during his tenure. 

The BCDA also released a statement, saying that all its projects were funded through official government programs, including releases from the National Treasury and allocations under the General Appropriations Act, fully governed by procurement laws and CoA oversight.

The DPWH said the timing of Leviste’s claims raised questions. 

Reports surfaced that Leviste took DPWH files from the late Undersecretary Catalina Cabral without proper authorization. CCTV footage from 4 September showed Leviste going to Cabral’s office and holding a pile of documents while she appeared to be explaining them to him.

Anonymous DPWH staff alleged that the footage didn’t tell the whole story. They claimed Leviste raised his voice, asking, “Why, are you hiding something?” while Cabral sustained a paper cut in a struggle over the papers with Leviste. To appease the congressman, she reportedly instructed her staff to give him a copy of the 2025 NEP and GAA allocations.

Leviste, however, denied taking the files illegally. “I vehemently deny any allegation that I illegally obtained the files from the DPWH, and I thank them for confirming the authenticity of the files given to me on 4 September with Sec. Vince’s approval,” he said. 

He added that the DPWH’s renewed focus on the incident months later “raises questions on why they don’t just release all the files if there’s nothing to hide.”

The clash over the Cabral files continues to unfold, keeping the spotlight on transparency, accountability, and the flood control projects in New Clark City.