Camille Naredo

Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Catalina Cabral attends a probe into flood control programs nationwide, called by the House of Representatives Infrastructure Committee (InfraComm) in Quezon City on September 9, 2025. 

Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Catalina Cabral attends a probe into flood control programs nationwide, called by the House of Representatives Infrastructure Committee (InfraComm) in Quezon City on September 9, 2025. The InfraComm is a joint body comprising the Committees on Public Accounts, Public Works and Highways, and Good Government and Public Accountability, chaired by Representatives Terry Ridon, Romeo S. Momo Sr., and Joel Chua.

Article (news)

FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176802117773620251219-dpwh-usec-catalina-cabral-HoR.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Catalina Cabral attends a probe into flood control programs nationwide, called by the House of Representatives Infrastructure Committee (InfraComm) in Quezon City on September 9, 2025. Handout/House of Representatives/File" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Catalina Cabral attends a probe into flood control programs nationwide, called by the House of Representatives Infrastructure Committee (InfraComm) in Quezon City on September 9, 2025. <em>Handout/House of Representatives/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) -- The House Infrastructure Committee (Infracomm) will request a copy of the so-called &quot;Cabral files&quot; with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) amid mounting questions on its authenticity.</p><p>This, according to co-chair Terry Ridon.</p><p>The Cabral files supposedly contain the lists of insertions and their proponents which – according to reports – were handled or coursed through the late Public Works Undersecretary Catalina Cabral.</p><p>In a Saturday news briefing, Ridon said they would &quot;have to compel&quot; the agency to provide copies to Congress. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/3/leviste-hopes-ombudsman-will-release-cabral-files-to-the-public-1412">READ: Leviste hopes Ombudsman will release ‘Cabral files’ to the public</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/8/ombudsman-shuns-talks-on-cabral-files-if-for-publicity-1429">READ: Remulla dares Leviste to show up at Ombudsman after comments on &#x27;Cabral files&#x27;</a></div><p>&quot;Kasi siyempre, I am not sure bago nila nilipat yung mga dokumento to the Ombudsman, mayroon na silang sariling kopya na tinabi for their files,&quot; Ridon told reporters. </p><p>Ridon said they could also request copies from the Ombudsman, but noted that they would have to wait if they already finished their forensic inquiry into Cabral&#x27;s files and devices. </p><p>&quot;We will request from the DPWH. If they were able to give it to the Ombudsman, I don&#x27;t think there is any reason for them not to give the House Infracomm and Public Accounts. So we will ask for a copy of it next week,&quot; the lawmaker said. </p><p>&quot;It is something that the congressional committee can actually do para magkaroon kami ng sariling kopya so we don&#x27;t have to ask from anyone else anymore. Institutional request na ang pwedeng gawin ng Kongreso,&quot; he added. </p><p>Asked if they aim to countercheck the files, he answered in the negative. </p><p>&quot;We just want to get it as part of our files. Kasi even if the House Infracomm is currently suspended, mayroon namang ginagawa ang committee na ito sa pagko-coordinate sa iba&#x27;t ibang opisina so we&#x27;d like to get a copy of those files,&quot; he said.  </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>LAWMAKER DENIES ALLEGATIONS </strong></div><p>Senior Citizens Partylist Rep. Rodolfo Ompong Ordanes, for his part, denied reports that alleged he benefitted from the flood control projects as listed by the said files. </p><p>Ordanes said it was important that these documents be authenticated so no innocent official would be included.</p><p>&quot;Hindi ako dikit ng chairman ng appropriation ng Congress at wala akong kinakapitan na malaking pulitiko na sinasandalan. Ako ay congressman lang ng sektor na senior citizens partylist,&quot; the lawmaker said. </p><p>&quot;Pinapakiusap ko sa inyo na maging mapanuri kayo sa lumalabas na fake news na ito,&quot; he added.</p><p>Asked what might be the intent of the supposed disinformation drive against him, he said he was still puzzled. </p><p>&quot;Maaari na may isang grupo na gustong sirain ang ating partylist, ang ating pinaglalaban na para sa kapakanan at karapatan ng mga senior citizens. Ako ay nagtataka bakit ako ay pinag kasangkapan,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;Itong Cabral files na ito ay wala nang kredibilidad, puro na lamang paninira sa ating mga pulitiko,&quot; he said. </p><p>Senate President Vicente &quot;Tito&quot; Sotto III earlier said the so-called Cabral files do not have weight, as this only showed projects and other lists. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/9/sotto-don-t-waste-time-on-cabral-files-1719">READ: Don’t waste time on Cabral files -- Sotto</a></div><p>Sotto said he would rather look into possible ghost flood control projects in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao and make those behind these accountable.</p><p>Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo &quot;Ping&quot; Lacson had said that even some undersecretaries and Cabinet officials had allocables in the said budget.</p><p>Lacson said the Cabinet members include one &quot;ES&quot; who had P8.3 billion, and ex-DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, whose allocables for 2025 alone amounted to at least P30.5 billion.</p><p>Former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin had strongly denied any insinuations and allegations linking him to the scheme. </p>

<p>The House Infrastructure Committee (Infracomm) will request a copy of the so-called "Cabral files" with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) amid mounting questions on its authenticity.</p>

The House Infrastructure Committee (Infracomm) will request a copy of the so-called "Cabral files" with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) amid mounting questions on its authenticity.

House panel to request DPWH's copy of 'Cabral files' – Ridon

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House panel to request DPWH's copy of 'Cabral files' – Ridon

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 10, 2026 01:06 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 10, 2026 03:50 PM PHT

Read More:

Cabral files

Dapo forum

Terry Ridon

Department of Public Works and Highways

Catalina Cabral

DPWH

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