Batangas Rep Leviste faces ethics probe over alleged unlawful document acquisition

Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste may face an ethics complaint for allegedly unlawfully acquiring documents belonging to former Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.

House Public Accounts Committee Chairperson Terry Ridon stated that Leviste allegedly forcibly took documents from Cabral, causing her a paper cut injury, which Leviste refutes, calling it a 'cover-up'.

Photos showed Leviste using a DPWH office computer without authorization.

Leviste's earlier statement that DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon authorized the release of documents to him has been denied by Dizon.

The DPWH maintains that Dizon has neither personally seen nor authenticated the 'allocables' list posted online by Leviste.

Leviste claims Dizon was aware he had a copy of the files since September and was under the impression the secretary would release it to the public.

Ridon noted that allegations of improperly obtaining and reproducing official documents implicate core ethical duties of legislators, and the ethics committee could initiate an investigation motu proprio if a formal complaint is not filed.