MANILA — As questions over the authenticity of the so-called “Cabral files” grow, the House Infrastructure Committee (Infracomm) will ask the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for a copy.
Terry Ridon, a co-chair, said as much.
According to accounts, the lists of insertions and their supporters that were handled or passed through by the late Public Works Undersecretary Catalina Cabral are purportedly contained in the Cabral files.
Ridon stated that they would “have to compel” the agency to give copies to Congress during a news briefing on Saturday.
A House of Representatives panel will formally request a copy of the so-called “Cabral files” from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as part of its ongoing investigation into alleged corruption and irregularities in public infrastructure projects, according to former lawmaker and governance advocate Terry Ridon.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Ridon said the panel wants to examine documents believed to contain detailed records of questionable transactions, project allocations, and internal communications linked to past DPWH dealings.
The “Cabral files” reportedly refer to a set of documents allegedly compiled by a former DPWH insider, which have circulated in political and watchdog circles in recent weeks. The files are said to contain names of contractors, project lists, and supposed pay-off structures connected to road and flood-control projects.
While the authenticity of the files has yet to be officially established, Ridon stressed that their contents are serious enough to merit congressional scrutiny.
Members of the House panel are expected to send a formal request to DPWH within the week. Once obtained, the documents will be reviewed and compared with existing audit reports from the Commission on Audit (COA) and records from previous congressional probes.
Lawmakers may also call DPWH officials and other potential resource persons to testify on the origins of the files, the projects mentioned, and the safeguards currently in place to prevent corruption.
As of posting time, the DPWH has not released an official statement on the House panel’s planned request. However, officials have previously said the department is open to investigations and is committed to transparency and accountability.
Ridon emphasized that the probe should not be politicized.
The move was welcomed by good-governance organizations, who claimed it might result in more stringent control of infrastructure spending, which often makes up one of the biggest shares of the national budget.
After the documents are formally turned over and reviewed, the House panel is expected to provide updates.
