Malacañang said Sunday that no Cabinet official would be spared from anti-graft and corruption investigations if credible evidence emerges linking them to alleged irregularities in the 2025 national budget, emphasizing that accountability applies equally to all public servants regardless of position.
Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro, the Palace press officer, issued the statement amid escalating allegations that several Cabinet members benefited from billions of pesos in “allocables” — special budget allocations typically reserved for congressional district projects — inserted into the proposed 2025 national budget.
The claims originated from Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who cited documents associated with the late Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, known as the “Cabral files.” Lacson alleged that at least five Cabinet secretaries and several undersecretaries had access to these multibillion-peso allocations, including former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, whom he said was linked to at least P30.5 billion in 2025 allocables.
In a text message to reporters, Castro reaffirmed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s stance on integrity.
“Anyone among the Cabinet members who may be involved and for whom there is evidence should continue to be investigated to identify the real culprit,” Castro said. She added that the President “won’t shield anyone if found truly involved,” quoting Marcos as saying, “whoever it may be must be held accountable if they are truly involved.”
Castro stressed, however, that the allegations remain under the purview of independent investigative bodies, including the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice (DOJ). She urged those possessing evidence to submit it formally to these agencies or to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, a fact-finding body established to probe irregularities in public works projects.
The controversy is part of a broader scandal involving alleged anomalies in DPWH flood control and infrastructure projects, including claims of ghost projects and kickbacks. The “Cabral files” have fueled Senate inquiries led by Lacson, who chairs the Blue Ribbon Committee, and have prompted public calls for transparency in budget processes.
Malacañang has previously described some of the unverified documents as “hearsay” lacking probative value until authenticated by the DPWH or other official channels. The administration has maintained that it will not prematurely dismiss or endorse claims without proper validation.
The 2025 national budget, which has faced scrutiny over insertions and allocations, forms part of ongoing debates about governance and public fund management under the Marcos administration. No Cabinet member has been formally charged in connection with the latest allegations as of Sunday.
