Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral may be summoned to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into anomalous flood control projects, panel chairman Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.
Lacson noted that Cabral had invited at least one lawmaker to make early insertions into the proposed budget for 2026, and lied “through her teeth” in trying to deny it.
“Usec. Cabral,” Lacson said in an interview on DZMM radio, when asked about who the committee can summon to shed light on the issue.
In Filipino: Lacson: DPWH Usec, Posibleng Harapin ang Blue Ribbon Probe sa Isyu sa Flood Control
Lacson said Cabral sent a Viber message to the staff of now Senate President Vicente Sotto III, asking Sotto if he had priority projects for “vetting” and for inclusion in the National Expenditure Program. Sotto rejected the invitation.
When Dizon asked Cabral about the issue, Cabral denied it “to his face.”
“It’s good that the message was captured via screenshot and sent to me. I talked to DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon about it and when he confronted Cabral, she denied it to his face. But I have the screenshot and sent it to him and told him, this is the undersecretary that is lying through her teeth,” Lacson said.
When asked if Sen. Mark Villar, a former DPWH secretary, may be called as well, Lacson said Villar is a member of the Blue Ribbon Committee but may voluntarily share his experiences in dealing with contractors.
“In a way he can become a resource person if he opts to share his personal knowledge or even documents. That would be most welcome to add to the knowledge of the Blue Ribbon Committee,” Lacson said.
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Lacson: DPWH Usec, Posibleng Harapin ang Blue Ribbon Probe sa Isyu sa Flood Control
Maaaring ipatawag ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee si Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral sa imbestigasyon nito sa maanomalyang flood control projects, ayon kay panel chairman at Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson.
Ani Lacson, nag-imbita si Cabral sa isang mambabatas na gumawa ng maagang insertions sa panukalang badyet para sa 2026—at sa pagsinungaling na pagtanggi nito.
“Si Usec. Cabral,” ani Lacson sa panayam sa DZMM, nang tinanong kung sino ang maaaring ipatawag ng komite para magbigay linaw sa isyu.
Ani Lacson, nagpadala si Cabral ng Viber message sa staff ni Senate President Vicente Sotto III, na nagtatanong kung may mga priority projects ito para sa “vetting” at para maisama sa National Expenditure Program. Tinanggihan ni Sotto ang alok.
Tumanggi si Cabral nang tinanong siya ni Dizon kung totoo ito.
“Mabuti na-screenshot pinadala sa akin, nagusap kami ni (DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon) before noon. Kinonfront niya, talagang to his face, nag-deny to death na wala daw. E hawak ko ang screenshot, pinadala ko sa kanya. Sabi ko Sec. Vince, ito ang kausap mo na talagang lying through her teeth kaya bahala ka na diyan,” ani Lacson.
Samantala, nang tinanong kung maaari ring ipatawag si Sen. Mark Villar na dating DPWH secretary, tugon ni Lacson na bahagi si Villar ng Blue Ribbon Committee bagama’t pwede namang ibahagi ang karanasan niya sa contractors.
“Pwede siya in a way maging resource person kung i-share niya lalo kung halimbawa may personal knowledge siya at may documents na pinaghahawakan most welcome yan makadagdag sa kaalaman ng Blue Ribbon,” ani Lacson.
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