PNP Chief Orders Thorough Probe Into Death Of Ex-DPWH Exec Cabral

(Photo courtesy of Benguet PPO) Emergency responders recover the remains of former Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Maria Catalina “Cathy” Cabral from a 30-meter ravine in Maramal, Camp 4, along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet shortly after midnight on Friday (Dec. 19, 2025). Authorities are investigating whether Cabral’s reported fall from the roadside into the ravine involved foul play.

MANILA, Philippines (PNA)—Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Friday directed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Police Regional Office (PRO) Cordillera to conduct a thorough investigation into the death of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.

In a press briefing, Nartatez said he already tasked the regional director of PRO-Cordillera Administrative Region, to ensure that all angles are looked into.

“I have already ordered a thorough investigation into this incident for us to have a clear picture of what happened. While there was already an initial impression regarding what happened, we should not rule out any factor until our forensic investigators are able to establish the cause of death and the circumstances surrounding it,” he said.

Cabral, who was declared dead after falling into a ravine along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet on Thursday night, was implicated in issues surrounding flood control projects.

“That will also be among the angles that police investigators would focus on,” Nartatez said.

Despite the incident, Nartatez vowed to continue obtaining all necessary information and pieces of evidence on anomalous flood control projects, in line with the instruction of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to dig deeper into the controversy and hold accountable all the involved.

"We appeal to the public, especially the netizens, to refrain from speculating and wait instead for the official result of the investigation," Nartatez said.

"On the part of the PNP, we will continue providing assistance in the ongoing investigation and case build-up on the bigger issue of flood control in the interest of truth and accountability," he added.

Meanwhile, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said Cabral’s driver is now a person of interest.

He said the CIDG was instructed to use its subpoena powers to subpoena the deceased's cellphone and the driver.

Reviewing all possible circumstances

Benguet Police Provincial Office Director, Col. Lambert Suerte, said authorities are conducting a thorough examination of the incident site at Camp 4, where Cabral’s body was recovered shortly after midnight on Friday.

He said investigators are also reviewing all possible circumstances surrounding the incident.

“The purpose of the continuing investigation is to determine whether the fall was accidental, intentional, involved foul play, or was a case of suicide, as earlier speculated,” Suerte said in Ilocano during an interview with reporters.

Police have taken custody of the blue Toyota Carnival (plate number NIH 8088) used by Cabral.

However, her personal belongings were turned over to her family upon their arrival on Thursday evening.

Driver’s account

Suerte said he personally interviewed Cabral’s 56-year-old driver, Ricardio Munos Hernandez, the last person known to have seen her alive.

Based on the driver’s account, they were traveling along Kennon Road around noon on Thursday when Cabral asked to stop at Camp 4 to get some air.

A patrolling police mobile later advised them to leave the area, citing safety concerns due to the steep ravine.

They proceeded to a hotel in Baguio City, and at about 2 p.m., Cabral reportedly instructed the driver that they would head for La Union. Upon reaching the same area at Camp 4 at about 3 p.m., Cabral again asked the driver to stop and leave her there briefly. Hernandez said he parked at a nearby gasoline station where he could still see the area.

When he returned, Cabral was no longer there. Thinking she might have taken public transportation back to Baguio City, Hernandez checked their hotel but failed to find her. He returned to Kennon Road to search for her and later reported her disappearance to police at about 7 p.m.

Personnel of the Baguio City Police Office Station 8 accompanied Hernandez back to the area at about 8 p.m. and conducted a search using flashlights directed toward the ravine.

Cabral’s body was retrieved at about midnight and was pronounced dead at 12:03 a.m. Her remains were brought to a funeral home in Irisan, Baguio City.

Residents’ account

Tuba Councilor Arnulfo Milo, a resident of Camp 4 and owner of the gasoline station where the driver reportedly waited, said he also spoke with Hernandez, who recounted that they had earlier stopped along Kennon Road between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. and were similarly warned by police about the danger of the area.

Milo said he assisted in the retrieval operations and was asked to sign a document indicating that Cabral sustained injuries to her legs and hips and that her body struck a rock. He added that a medico-legal officer who examined the body noted that Cabral may have been dead for about seven hours before her remains were recovered.

Milo said he recommended transferring the body to a funeral home farther from the city proper, citing accessibility considerations.

Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing as they continue to gather statements and forensic evidence to determine the circumstances surrounding Cabral’s death.

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed that Cabral’s remains are now undergoing autopsy and DNA testing to confirm her identity.

Remulla said the investigation into flood control anomalies will not stop with the death of Cabral.

“Ang pagkamatay ng isang tao ay hindi ibig sabihin titigil ang gulong ng hustisya. Hahabulin namin ang lahat ng nakaw yaman, buhay o patay. Kung ano man merong ebidensya, kukunin pa rin ng gobyerno ang lahat ng hakbang na kailangan para maibalik sa taong Pilipino ang perang ninakaw(The death of a person does not mean that the wheels of justice will stop. We will pursue all stolen wealth, alive or dead. Whatever the evidence, the government will still take all necessary steps to return the stolen money to the Filipino people),” he said.

He also warned the other accused that death will not protect them.

“Death will even bring greater shame to your family. Face up to the charges, man up to the charges, answer the charges, and have faith in the judicial system,” he said.

Autopsy required

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice said an autopsy is required in the death of Cabral.

In a separate press briefing, Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said this is provided under Circular No. 013 issued by then Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, requiring the mandatory autopsy for victims of suspicious and violent deaths.

“So, we encourage (an autopsy) under these circumstances as it could fall under this category," he said

The official acknowledged reports that Cabral’s family had expressed misgivings about allowing an autopsy on the former official's remains.

Fadullon also explained that Cabral's death extinguishes her personal liability, thus “any testimony she earlier gave against anyone no longer has legal value on its own.”

“Following Cabral's death, any person who may have been named in a statement can no longer conduct a cross-examination on her,” he said.

(By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan and Liza Agoot with a report from Benjamin Pulta/PNA)