The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) denied on Tuesday, Dec. 30, the allegations made by Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste that DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon made budget insertions for flood control projects when he was still head of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

In a statement, the DPWH said the claims of so-called “insertions” or “allocables” are “baseless and malicious.”

“The BCDA, which Secretary Dizon formerly headed, has already issued a clear statement that it has no flood control projects that are funded through budget insertions, ‘allocable funds,’ or any discretionary source,” the agency said.

“Any claims of 'allocable' or discretionary funding for such purposes are baseless and false,” it added.

Leviste earlier alleged that Dizon made insertions for flood control projects under the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA). Dizon served as the BCDA’s President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) from Aug. 2016 to October 2021.

In a separate statement, the BCDA said no insertion, allocable, or similar fund exists within its authority or projects. It stressed that it does not receive or control discretionary funds and does not take part in budget insertions.

The BCDA said all its projects are financed only through approved government programs, and the funds are released through the National Treasury and implemented under the General Appropriations Act( GAA).

It added that all project activities follow procurement laws and Commission on Audit (COA) rules. The agency said its records are complete and auditable.

“BCDA enforces zero tolerance for corruption through strict compliance with the law, multi-layered legal and audit review, standardized frameworks that limit discretion, and close coordination with oversight bodies, and welcomes fact-based review and investigation,” it noted.

The BCDA said it welcomes fact-based review and investigation of its projects.

Meanwhile, the DPWH pointed out the timing of the allegations made by Leviste as the claims surfaced after reports that some DPWH staff accused the Batangas lawmaker of forcibly and illegally obtaining files from the late DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, who had been implicated in the flood control investigation before she died after falling from a ravine along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet last Dec. 19.

Cabral’s employees reportedly accused Leviste of forcibly obtaining documents and copying computer files from DPWH offices. The incident allegedly happened in September while Cabral was still alive.

Staffers reportedly said Leviste had demanded budget-related information and became impatient while waiting for documents.

They claimed he filmed papers, copied files from Cabral’s computer, and argued with the DPWH unersecretary. One employee said Cabral sustained a paper cut during a commotion.

Leviste, however, denied taking documents by force although he acknowledged copying files from Cabral’s computer. He said his actions were in the interest of transparency and claimed approval from DPWH chief Dizon.

Dizon denied giving any authorization and said the matter is now under review by the Office of the Ombudsman.