Former DPWH undersecretary Catalina Cabral. ARCHIVE

Authorities will conduct DNA testing and a full autopsy on the body believed to be that of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral to confirm her identity and determine the exact cause of death, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Friday (December 19). Speaking at a press conference in Camp Crame, Remulla said investigators want to be “absolutely certain” about the circumstances surrounding Cabral’s death. “We will now mandate an autopsy and a DNA test to be absolutely certain about the manner of death — whether there was foul play or not — but based on initial reports, there is no foul play,” Remulla said in Filipino. He added that while Cabral’s family has already identified the body, authorities will not rely on visual identification alone. “The family has positively identified her, but we cannot rely on that alone because there could be deception involved. We need to be certain. There could be a scenario where a different body was used. The family says it was her, but she might have escaped elsewhere. Many people falsify death certificates, so we are just making sure that it is really her,” Remulla said in Filipino. Remulla also said Cabral may have been under severe stress due to her alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects, which are currently under investigation. He described Cabral as one of the “principal architects” of the alleged flood control scam, along with retired DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo. “As undersecretary for planning, she was the one who determined what needed to be done. She approved where funds could be allocated and identified which projects were approved. She was involved in all of those approvals together with Undersecretary Bernardo,” Remulla said in Filipino. He stressed that investigations into alleged corruption will continue regardless of developments in the case. “No matter what you do, the law will go after you. In life or in death, the wheels of justice will turn. Even if they run away, they will still be pursued. Asset recovery will continue if guilt is proven, and due process will be followed,” he said in Filipino. Cabral was reported to have fallen from a cliff along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet, on Thursday (December 18). Police said she was discovered unconscious near the Bued River, around 20 to 30 meters below the highway, and was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on December 19. According to police, Cabral had been travelling with her driver from Baguio City to La Union when she asked to be dropped off along a portion of Kennon Road. When the driver later returned and could not find her, he sought police assistance. Search operations conducted by the Benguet Police Provincial Office, Baguio City Police Office and Tuba Municipal Police Station led to her discovery near the riverbank. Authorities said the incident is being treated as an alleged fall, with no foul play established so far. Cabral was a licensed civil engineer with an extensive academic background, holding doctorate degrees in Business Management and Public Administration, as well as Urban and Regional Planning. She made history as the first female rank-and-file employee promoted to undersecretary at the DPWH and later became the first female president of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers. She also led the Road Engineering Association of the Philippines. She resigned from the DPWH in September 2025 after being implicated in alleged irregularities involving flood control projects, including budget insertions and possible kickbacks. She was among several former DPWH officials recommended for charges of graft and malversation. CAM/PGD/Expat Media
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