Metro Manila, Philippines – Former Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral died due to “blunt force trauma” after allegedly falling from a cliff in Benguet, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Saturday, Dec. 19, according to state media.
Cabral, a key figure in the flood control corruption scandal, died on Thursday, Dec. 18, after she allegedly fell from a cliff near the Bued River along the Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet. Authorities retrieved the body shortly after midnight and was declared dead on the scene.
Remulla confirmed to state broadcaster PTV Cordillera that the remains found were Cabral’s.
He earlier said authorities are conducting thorough identity checks to rule out possibilities that the incident was staged to evade charges in relation to the flood control mess.
Remulla said no bullet wounds were found on the body or any indication of foul play, PTV Cordillera also reported.
Cabral’s husband is also expected to turn over personal items of the former public works official for the investigation of the authorities.
In a briefing on Friday, Remulla admitted that there was a lapse on the part of investigators in handing over the phone to Cabral’s family after her remains were retrieved.
Official autopsy results may be released on Saturday. Cabral’s family previously opposed the autopsy but later allowed the examination.
The National Bureau of Investigation has also called on motorists who passed through the area along Kennon Road where Cabral was found on Thursday to share recordings of dashcam footage to assist investigators.
On Friday, the Department of Justice recommended plunder charges against Cabral, but her death extinguishes possible criminal liability, leaving the government to pursue only the forfeiture of potential ill-gotten wealth.
Cabral was linked to alleged budget insertions and multi-million peso kickbacks from flood control projects. Former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo claimed that Cabral communicated and met with legislators to inform them of the amount of their allocations and ask them for titles of projects that they want to include in the Department of Public Works and Highways budget.
