Manila, Philippines – The House minority bloc dismissed as premature authorities’ conclusion on the circumstances surrounding the death of former Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral and have sought an inquiry to ferret out the truth.
Twelve legislators from the bloc filed House Resolution 606 on Monday, Dec. 22, that asked three committees to jointly conduct the probe.
They said they want to get to the bottom of Cabral’s involvement in the corruption scheme that redirected taxpayers’ money into funding anomalous flood control projects that either never existed or were left unfinished.
“Ano yung circumstances? Ano yung cause? Bakit namatay? Suicide ba, aksidente ba o foul play? Lalo na kapag may mga indikasyon na foul play kelangan na masusing imbestigahan,” Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, one of the resolution signatories, told a press briefing.
[TRANSLATION: What were the circumstances or cause of death? Suicide, accident or foul play? We need a thorough investigation especially if there are indications of foul play.]
Over the weekend, authorities released an autopsy finding that concluded that Cabral fell to her death in a ravine in Benguet.
Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste, another signatory, said Cabral had left in his custody a list of supposed congressmen, senators and other public officials linked to the corruption scheme.
“Ano ba talaga ang alam niya? Sino-sinong mga personalidad ang may koneksyon siya?” De Lima said.
[TRANSLATION: What was she privy of? Who are the personalities she dealt with?]
Cabral’s death may have extinguished criminal liability, but state assets in her estate should be forfeited in favor of national coffers, said De Lima, who was a former Justice secretary.
“Kasi nga hindi kaagad pina-forfeit yung mga assets din ni Usec. Cabral,” the lawmaker said.
“Not that we’re being insensitive na nandyan pa siya, nakaburol pa siya. But as I said, kahit it extinguishes her criminal liability, yung kanyang pagbabalik kung hindi sa kanya ay dapat maibalik sa estado. Kaya kailangan na gawin na kaagad yan.
And more importantly kung ano yung nandyan pa sa kanya, nandyan sa bahay niya, nandyan sa possession ng pamilya niya, nandyan sa opisina niya na makakatulong dyan sa imbestigasyon,” De Lima said.
[TRANSLATION: This is because the assets of Usec. Cabral were not immediately forfeited (when she was still living).
Not that we’re being insensitive about the fact that a funeral is still being held. But as I said, even if her death extinguishes her criminal liability, she has to return the assets to the state. This must be carried out immediately.
And more importantly, whatever she has in her home, in the possession of her family, or in her office, that could aid the investigation.]
Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendana blamed Malacanang for the delay, saying authorities would not have missed that window to recover the assets and information about names behind the flood control scam had the bill creating the Independent Commission against Infrastructure Corruption (ICAIC) been certified as urgent.
“Kaya po dito sa nangyaring ito, talagang malaki ang kasalanan ng Malacanang dito sa failure ng pag-secure nitong mahalagang impormasyon para buuin ang katotohanan sa likod ng flood control scam,” Cendana told the same briefing.
[TRANSLATION: Because of the turn of events, Malacanang is responsible for the failure to secure important information to piece together the truth behind the flood control scam.]
