Metro Manila, Philippines – The late Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Catalina Cabral did not receive any subpoena from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Dec. 15, her supposed appearance days before her controversial death, her lawyer said.
The ICI released the letter of Cabral’s lawyer to the ICI dated Dec. 15 and received Dec. 16 – only on Tuesday, Jan. 6.
“She did not receive any communication, let alone the purported subpoena, from the Honorable Commission about the same. Ms. Cabral has no intention whatsoever of avoiding inquiry,” Mae Divinagracia, Cabral’s lawyer, wrote.
Divinagracia said Cabral was told to wait for the commission’s subpoena after appearing at the ICI on Sept. 24.
“On 29 September 2025, in the exercise of prudence, she in fact sent her representative to inquire if her presence would still be needed for the hearing on the said day,” she said.
In a statement, ICI executive director Brian Hosaka said the commission issued the subpoena to Cabral on Dec. 9 through the DPWH, as it is the “procedure involving present and former DPWH officials and personnel.”
He said Cabral would have been invited to the subsequent hearings after expressing her intention to cooperate with the commission.
“However, we were overtaken by events with the resignation of two of our commissioners and of course by the death of Usec. Cabral,” Hosaka said, referring to the exit of Rogelio Singson on Dec. 15 and Rossana Fajardo on Dec. 31.
ICI’s last hearing day was scheduled for Dec. 15.
Cabral was found unconscious in a ravine in Benguet on Dec. 19. She was a key figure in the flood control scandal for her knowledge on supposed budget insertions.
NewsWatch Plus has reached out to the DPWH for comment.
