MANILA — Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste claimed that each district and party-list representative receives at least P150 million in annual budget insertions under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), citing a document he said was obtained from the late former Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.

“‘Yan ang minimum ng bawat isa. Pero may mga isa na daan-daan, milyon o bilyon. At ang P150 ang standard bawat congressman pati party-list representative,” Leviste told dzBB, describing the alleged P150-million allocation as a “basic” or “standard” amount.

Leviste said additional insertions reportedly come from members of the executive branch, private individuals, and senators, with senators alone accounting for P21 billion in submissions. He clarified that budget insertions are not inherently illegal, but the concern arises when an official or their relatives personally benefit, as allegedly seen in flood control projects linked to Congress.

According to Leviste, Cabral’s documents detail “allocables” in the 2025 National Expenditure Program — ceiling budgets assigned to engineering offices from which lawmakers could select projects. Cabral’s formula, known as the “BBM parametric formula,” reportedly factors in population, poverty incidence, and disaster recovery capacity, though Leviste noted discrepancies, with smaller provinces sometimes receiving larger allocations.

Leviste also claimed the documents contain P320 billion in insertions outside the formula, including submissions from executives, private individuals, congressmen, and senators. He added that some lawmakers may have been listed without their knowledge.

However, a security log from DPWH casts doubt on Leviste’s account of obtaining the files. The log shows that during his visit to Cabral’s office on September 4, Leviste and his companions were observed leaving the premises without carrying any documents. Guards noted only that his bodyguard carried a box of pizza, and that Leviste later exited the area carrying “three or four pieces of paper,” without further verification.

Leviste has said he will release the documents only upon the instruction of DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, raising questions about whether the files were ever formally turned over to him.

The disclosure comes as the Philippine National Police continues to secure documents, electronic devices, and other evidence following Cabral’s death on December 18, which authorities are investigating as a possible suicide.