Lacson calls for an inter-agency probe on accusations linking Cabinet execs to flood control mess. Instead of "prematurely" dismissing the accusations, Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson has called on Malacañang to conduct an inter-agency investigation into allegations linking top government officials to the flood control controversy. Lacson made the remarks after Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro dismissed the allegations of Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste that some Cabinet secretaries backed the infrastructure budget insertions in 2025 as "hearsay" with "no probative value." Lacson argues that this premature dismissal may be interpreted as a cover-up. He highlights the evidence generated by the Senate panel, including testimonies supported by official documents, and the potential discovery of a "web of accounts" that could reveal fund movements. The lawmaker emphasizes the public's anger and distrust in government, citing the Catholic Church, religious sectors, and civil groups. GMA News Online has reached out to Castro for comment, but she has yet to respond. Leviste previously claimed that late undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral provided him with computer files containing information on proponents involved in DPWH budget insertions. He released a portion of the "Cabral files" showing allocated budgets for DPWH projects, which allegedly ballooned due to "outside allocable." Leviste also released over 60 screenshots on his Facebook page, translating to P130,000 per Filipino family.
