Manila: Malaca±ang on Friday challenged Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste to substantiate his 2025 budget insertion claims with 'verified facts and documents.'

According to Philippines News Agency, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro reacted to Leviste's statement that she should check with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon on the authenticity of the list of proponents of the infrastructure budget insertions in 2025, which allegedly includes names of Cabinet secretaries. Castro questioned why it should be her responsibility to prove the alleged 'Cabral's files' Leviste claims to possess, which were reportedly obtained from the late DPWH undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.

Castro emphasized that Leviste, having initiated the claims, should bear the responsibility of proving their authenticity, rather than shifting it to others. She expressed doubts about the integrity of the so-called 'Cabral files,' suggesting they could be 'altered or fabricated documents.' Castro insisted that before making accusations, individuals should substantiate their claims with verified facts and documents.

In response to reports that First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos was mentioned in the leaked DPWH documents, Castro stated that the alleged Cabral lists remain 'questionable' and that there is no evidence to support claims about the infrastructure project in Cauayan City, Isabela, supposedly requested by Araneta-Marcos. She stressed that unless the documents are verified by the DPWH, they hold no probative value and should be regarded as hearsay or potentially fabricated.

Addressing Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson's insinuations of a 'cover-up,' Castro downplayed these allegations, reiterating that without authentication by the DPWH, the alleged involvement of some Cabinet members in the budget insertions remains unverified. She rejected the notion that the Palace is engaged in any form of cover-up, emphasizing the need for verified evidence before making such claims.