THE Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will begin examining documents left behind by the late Public Works undersecretary Catalina Cabral when it resumes hearings on the flood control bribery scandal Monday, Jan. 19. Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who chairs the committee, said the panel will ask officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to authenticate the documents now known as the “Cabral files,” copies of which are reportedly in the possession of Lacson and others. Cabral, implicated in the bribery scandal, was found unconscious in a ravine along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet, on Dec. 18, and pronounced dead on Dec. 19 when she was taken to Benguet General Hospital and Medical Center. Following her death, documents she had reportedly prepared or shared were made public. These documents allegedly contain evidence of corruption and kickbacks, which have since fueled further Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings. “To be fair, any document the DPWH cannot authenticate — including those in my possession — will not form part of the committee records,” Lacson said. The outcome of the authentication process is expected to shape the direction of the Senate investigation into alleged budgetary manipulation and project irregularities within the DPWH. Bonoan’s absence Lacson said the anticipated absence of former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan from the Jan. 19 hearing will not derail the inquiry, though it may weaken Bonoan’s position. “He has to explain the submission of false data on grid coordinates to Malacañang,” Lacson said, referring to allegations previously raised in connection with DPWH project listings. The committee has also invited representatives from the Department of Justice to clarify whether the DOJ approved Bonoan’s request to extend his stay in California, citing the postponement of his wife’s eye operation to Feb. 15. Lacson said the panel may consider allowing Bonoan to testify via video conference, but only under strict conditions. “If he attends remotely, it must be from the Philippine Embassy or consulate, where an oath can be administered,” he said. Attempted robbery Meanwhile, Lacson said so-called “allocables” — project funding requests or lists endorsed by lawmakers to implementing agencies during the budget process — are no different from attempted robbery if they are pursued for kickbacks. “If you submit a ‘wish list’ or allocables, even without assurance they will be included in the final General Appropriations Act, and the motive is to collect commissions, that can be likened to attempted, or at the very least, planned robbery,” Lacson said in a radio interview, speaking in both English and Filipino. Lacson emphasized that while legislators may legitimately request funding for projects that are well-studied and responsive to constituents’ needs, such requests should not be made while the National Expenditure Program (NEP) is still being drafted by the executive branch. “Legislators have no say in the listing of projects in the NEP,” Lacson said. “Congress comes in only after the NEP is submitted, when amendments may be proposed.” He said any attempt by lawmakers to influence project listings during the NEP stage, particularly if driven by the prospect of commissions, undermines the budget process and could amount to criminal intent. Lacson added that his own institutional amendments to the budget were based on vetted requests from government agencies or on realignments made under Congress’ oversight role. Bernardo testimony The Blue Ribbon Committee has also invited former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo to testify on an alleged attempt by former police chief Nicolas Torre III to take him into custody. While Torre is not formally invited, Lacson said he is welcome to attend and present his side. In a separate line of inquiry, Lacson disclosed that at least two resource persons are expected to testify regarding the April 2023 purchase of a house and lot in South Forbes, allegedly linked to former speaker Martin Romualdez and contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II. “I obtained copies of the deed of absolute sale and the checks used for payment,” Lacson said in a separate interview. He noted that while Discaya was not named as the buyer, the purchasing corporation’s substantial shareholder reportedly has ties to the former speaker. The upcoming hearing is expected to consolidate multiple strands of the Senate’s investigation into alleged corruption, budget manipulation, and abuse of authority within and around major infrastructure agencies. Probe of Estrada, Revilla Also on Saturday, the Department of Justice said the preliminary investigation on the plunder complaints filed against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former senator Bong Revilla in connection with irregularities in flood control projects is scheduled to begin soon. At a news forum in Quezon City, Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said the agency will issue the subpoenas against the two by “next week.” “I believe by next week, this coming week, we will be issuing the subpoenas already in connection with those cases. Meaning to say, the preliminary investigation will commence,” he said. The complaints were filed by the National Bureau of Investigation, covering irregularities in the flood control projects in Bulacan province and other transactions. He said Revilla, Estrada, along with resigned Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, were charged for violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. Revilla was implicated in the flood control controversy after Bernardo alleged that he delivered P125 million to the former senator’s residence in 2024 and another P250 million through his aide before the 2025 elections. Bernardo also claimed that Estrada asked Bonoan for P500 million, with an 18 percent commitment included in the budget, and later wanted to complete P1 billion in projects. Bernardo claimed he delivered a 25-percent commitment amounting to P213 million to Estrada at the Artiaga Building in San Juan City in 2025 and that the senator personally confirmed receipt. Revilla and Estrada denied the allegations that they received kickbacks from the flood control projects. WITH PNA