MANILA — Malacañang dismissed allegations that some Cabinet secretaries were listed as proponents of multibillion-peso Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget insertions, describing the claims as “hearsay.”

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the claims lack “probative value” unless supported by authenticated documents. She emphasized that only verified materials from official sources can be credibly addressed by the Palace.

“The Palace will only respond to documents authenticated by the DPWH. Other than these, they will all be considered hearsay or tsismis, which have no probative value,” Castro said in a text message.

The statements came after Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste claimed that the late DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral had given him documents on Sept. 4 containing the names of high-ranking officials, including Cabinet secretaries, allegedly involved in DPWH budget insertions.

Leviste said the files were shared with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure on Nov. 18 and 19 and with the Office of the Ombudsman on Nov. 26.

Cabral, who died after falling into a ravine in Benguet on Dec. 19, had resigned on Sept. 16 amid controversy. She was previously accused by former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo of playing a key role in the agency’s financial planning.