Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Friday played down the importance of the so-called “Cabral files” in the Senate’s investigation into alleged flood control anomalies, saying lawmakers should instead focus on official records from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to determine accountability.

The “Cabral files” refer to alleged lists of project insertions and their proponents linked to the late Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Catalina Cabral.

Asked whether the documents carried significant weight, Sotto said they should not be the focus of the inquiry.

“That should not be a waste of time. What matters is what was actually released, not just the files,” Sotto said in a virtual press briefing.

Sotto said the most important documents are those showing which projects were approved and funded, particularly the Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) and Notices of Cash Allocation (NCAs) issued by the DBM.

“It’s like just a list you’d see at a neighborhood corner,” he said of the Cabral files.

“The question there is: is there a SARO? Which items on the list have a SARO? How many on the list have an NCA? Because that’s how we’ll know what was actually released. The DBM files are what matter most,” he added.

Sotto said the investigation should prioritize uncovering alleged “ghost” flood control projects across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao and holding accountable those responsible for approving and executing them.

Imee rejoinder

“There are so many projects being submitted year after year. The question is, which of those were actually executed? Who was the proponent? Who pushed them through? That’s what’s important,” he stressed.

Sotto also reiterated his response to Senator Imee Marcos’ claim that senators were allegedly restricted to questioning only DPWH officials during Senate hearings on the flood control controversy, dismissing the allegation as baseless.

“That’s invented. I don’t know who that silly fool was who told her that. There’s no such thing,” Sotto said. “The accusation is unfair and baseless. She’s entitled to her own opinion — her wrong opinion,” he added.

Addressing Marcos’ remark that senators appeared to be the main targets of accusations related to the alleged anomalies, Sotto said scrutiny should instead be directed at resource persons, including former DPWH officials.

“Resource persons like former DPWH official Brice Hernandez should be asked why senators are the ones being named,” he said.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has been conducting hearings into alleged irregularities in flood control projects, but no schedule has yet been set for the next hearing.

Sotto reiterated that without proof of budget releases, lists of proposed projects or alleged insertions carry little evidentiary value.