Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina “Cathy” Cabral was found dead following an alleged fall along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet late Wednesday night, December 18. Authorities discovered her unconscious near the Bued River, approximately 20–30 meters below the highway in Barangay Camp 4. Cabral was retrieved shortly before midnight with the assistance of the Tuba Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Bureau of Fire Protection, and was pronounced dead at 12:03 a.m. on December 19.
This is a developing story.
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Circumstances Surrounding Cabral’s Death
Cabral had been traveling with her driver earlier in the afternoon when she requested a stop at a zigzag section of Kennon Road. Hours later, the driver could not locate her and contacted local police. Search teams from the Baguio City Police Office and Tuba Municipal Police Station eventually found her near the riverbank.
A video circulating online reportedly shows Cabral expressing a fear of heights, though authorities emphasize that the case is being treated as an alleged fall. While no foul play has been confirmed, investigators are examining the case closely after reports that her laptop and other devices are missing. Her cellphone and gadgets have been secured for forensic review.
On the other hand, the Office of the Ombudsman has directed Benguet authorities to secure and preserve Cabral’s cellphone and other electronic gadgets for use in the investigation. Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the devices are needed “at all costs” and should be turned over to investigators at the appropriate time.
Links to Controversial Flood Control Projects
Cabral resigned from the DPWH in September 2025 amid allegations involving anomalous budget insertions in flood control projects. Another former DPWH official, Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, accused her and other executives of running a kickback system for certain government contracts.
Cabral’s extensive knowledge of flood control projects, some allegedly overpriced, substandard, or even ghost projects, has intensified public scrutiny. Authorities are reportedly tracking officials and contractors involved in projects worth billions of pesos over the past 15 years, with potential exposure exceeding P1 trillion under the Marcos administration.
DPWH Extends Condolences Amid Public Concern
The DPWH expressed condolences to Cabral’s family, recognizing her more than 40 years of public service. However, her resignation, missing laptop, and insider knowledge of controversial projects have raised questions about the circumstances of her death. Investigators continue to examine all remaining documents and devices to determine what truly happened.
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[UPDATE as of December 19, 2025]:
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has urged authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into former DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina “Cathy” Cabral’s death to determine whether foul play was involved, given her key role in ongoing probes into alleged infrastructure anomalies.
The commission also called on law enforcement to secure and preserve her documents, gadgets, and computers for possible digital forensic examination as part of efforts to uncover the full circumstances surrounding her passing.
