Metro Manila, Philippines – Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said authorities found no evidence of foul play in the sudden death of former Department of Public Works and Highways undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, but added that thorough identity checks will be conducted to rule out possibilities that the incident was staged to evade charges tied to the flood control mess.
Remulla told reporters on Friday, Dec. 19, that Cabral’s body is undergoing an autopsy and will also undergo a DNA check to confirm her identity.
“The family positively identified her already but we cannot rely on that alone. Baka may budol play dito, naninigurado tayo (There may be schemes at play, we’re just making sure),“ the secretary said.
“Baka ibang katawan ang ginamit tapos sinabi ng pamilya sila na ‘yon, pero baka tumakas sa ibang lugar. Marami kasi nag-fake ng birth certificate,” he added.
[Translation: Maybe another body was used and the family said it was her, but maybe she fled to another place. Many people fake birth certificates.]
Remulla said a full report of the procedures will be released by authorities after 24 hours.
Senator Kiko Pangilinan also called on authorities to be wary of a possible fake death in Cabral’s case.
In a social media post, the lawmaker called on Remulla to properly identify the remains of Cabral.
“Faking death to escape criminal liability for corruption has happened before,” he said, citing the 1998 textbook scam case of Mary Ann Maslog whose charges were dropped after she faked her death in 2019.
Cabral, a key figure in the flood control kickback scandal, was found unconscious and unresponsive 20 to 30 meters below the Kennon Road highway in Benguet Thursday evening. She was pronounced dead on arrival.
“From initial reports, walang (there was no) foul play,” Remulla said.
Authorities said Cabral came from a hotel in Baguio where she was staying alone. Remulla said they do not know why the ex-official was in the area.
According to her driver’s testimony, Cabral asked to be dropped off at Camp 5 along Kennon Road at around 3 p.m. for an “inspection.”
The driver followed Cabral’s order and left her at the site of the incident at 5 p.m. A few hours later, the driver went back to the hotel to check if Cabral returned without him.
The driver reported the incident to the police at 8 p.m.
When asked if the case would be ruled as suicide due to her implication in the flood control scandal, Remulla said to wait for investigation results.
“I would assume she was undergoing severe stress sa nangyayari dito (due to what’s happening) but that’s just an assumption. I cannot talk on behalf of what her mental state was,” he said.
‘Face the charges’
Remulla offered condolences to Cabral’s family but also used the case as an example to other individuals facing charges related to the flood control mess.
“Let me be clear, ang pagkamatay ng isang tao ay hindi ibig sabihin titigil ang gulong ng hustisya. Hahabulin namin ang lahat ng nakaw yaman, buhay o patay,” the secretary said.
[Translation: Let me be clear, the death of a person does not mean that the wheels of justice stop. We will hunt down all the stolen wealth, dead or alive.]
He also issued a stern warning to all individuals who are on the run amid the probes on the scandal and issuance of arrest warrants.
“Death will not protect you. 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.
Remulla also vowed that “no one is sacred” and nothing will stop the government from recovering the stolen money of the people.
Cabral was implicated in the corruption scandal after she was tagged as a communicator that would ask legislators of project insertions in the DPWH budget.
