Authorities confirmed the death of Catalina Cabral, a former DPWH undersecretary.
Former Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Catalina Cabral died after allegedly falling off a cliff along Kennon Road.
Resigned Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral was initially reported to be found “unconscious and unresponsive” along the Bued River at Kennon Road on Thursday night. Her driver, Ricardio Munos Hernandez, searched for hours for her.
They were on Kennon Road on route from Baguio to La Union province. Amid their travel, she asked to get out of the vehicle and asked to be left alone at Purok Maramal, Sitio Camp 5 in Barangay Camp 4 at 3 PM. The driver returned at 5 PM for her, but he could no longer locate her. He then rushed to a Baguio hotel where Cabral was staying before returning to the Kennon Road Viewdeck, near Station 8 of the Baguio City Police Office.
The zigzag road section falls under Tuba, Benguet, and is a populated area.
She was later declared dead by Dr. Gian Frances Salinas at 12:03 AM on Friday, December 19, police said. Benguet Police Provincial Office (PPO) said Cabral was found around 8 PM, 20 to 30 meters below the highway in the Camp 5 area of Barangay Camp 4, after authorities set out units to search for her.
As of now, the incident is being considered an alleged fall that resulted in death. The investigation is still ongoing.
To recall, Cabral resigned from DPWH after she was tagged in the alleged anomalous budget insertions related to the
anomalous flood control projects
. It was also alleged that she took part in the kickback scheme involving substandard and nonexistent flood control projects that allegedly benefited lawmakers and public officials.
Last week, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure issued a subpoena for Cabral to attend its hearings.