Manila, Dec. 26 -- Malacanang on Friday challenged Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste to substantiate his 2025 budget insertion claims with "verified facts and documents."

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro reacted to Leviste's statement that she should check with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon on the authenticity of the list of proponents of the infrastructure budget insertions in 2025, which allegedly includes names of Cabinet secretaries.

"Why should this representation prove the alleged 'Cabral's files' he claims to possess," Castro said in a statement, referring to the documents obtained by Leviste from the late DPWH undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.

"He has started bragging about ...