Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste expressed confidence that former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral was willing to cooperate in ongoing investigations into flood control projects.
In an interview on DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, Leviste said Cabral had provided him with documents and information relevant to the inquiry and appeared eager to assist in uncovering the truth.
“I think si Usec. Cabral ay talagang willing na mag-cooperate sa mga imbestigasyon tungkol sa flood control projects. For whatever reason, she was not happy with how the investigations were going,” Leviste said.
Leviste explained that he last communicated with Cabral some time ago, as she had stopped attending congressional hearings. However, she had shared files with him as early as September 4. Leviste also receives information from someone close to Cabral to help interpret the documents.
He added that Cabral possessed extensive knowledge of DPWH projects nationwide, which he believes could have greatly aided the investigation.
“Yung files sa Office of Planning sa Central Office ng DPWH ay may ganitong impormasyon. Alam naman po natin lahat na hindi lang mga kontraktor ang dapat managot kung hindi din po ang mga politiko na sa likod nila na nag-insert ng mga proyektong ito sa budget at yun po yung hawak ni Usec. Cabral,” Leviste said.
The Batangas Rep. confirmed that he had suggested to the Inter-Agency Committee on Infrastructure (ICI) that Cabral be considered as a state witness.
“Sinabi pa nga din nila na oo, siya nga ay mas marami pang alam kaysa kay Bernardo at baka kahit kay Bonoan. Dahil kilala din siyang very matalino, edukado, may mga PhD at yung mga data niya, lahat nakasulat,” Leviste said.
Leviste called on the government to protect all DPWH witnesses who hold key information saying, “Kung gusto natin malaman ng katotohanan, dapat natin protektahan lahat ng mga witness mula sa DPWH”.
Cabral, a former DPWH undersecretary, passed away recently, leaving questions about the future of her potential contributions to the probe.
