The family of Catalina Cabral believes what happened to her was an accident.
The family of former Department of Public Works and Highways undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral believes what happened was accidental.
Former Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Catalina Cabral fell off a cliff along Kennon Road. The investigation is still ongoing to determine whether it was accidental or not, but
Cabral’s death
has shocked many people.
To recall, she was found around 8 PM on Thursday, 20 to 30 meters below the highway in the Camp 5 area of Barangay Camp 4, and hours later, she was declared dead.
Cabral resigned from the DPWH after being linked to alleged anomalous budget insertions tied to
anomalous flood control projects
. She was also accused of involvement in a kickback scheme related to substandard and ghost projects that allegedly benefited some lawmakers and public officials.
They object to the order to have her remains autopsied due to the suspicious circumstances surrounding her death. This is despite the fact that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) have ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), respectively, to conduct an autopsy.
A DNA testing was also ordered by the DILG to verify the identity of the remains.
Cabral’s husband, Cesar, said that he and their children have already identified the body. He said,
“Ako na nagsasabi, asawa ko ‘yan. Nanay nila ‘yan. Ano pa gusto nilang i-prove? Maghahanap sila ng ibang tao?”
He firmly expressed that their family would not allow the autopsy.
Meanwhile, her belongings, including the car, were turned over to her family. Her cellphone was also returned, and the authorities are yet to secure it. The family was advised not to delete any information from Cabral’s cellphone.