The Philippine National Police (PNP) is asking the family of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral to surrender her personal devices, including her cellphone, computers, and bag, which remain in their custody, as investigators admitted lapses in handling evidence.
At the same time, Cabral’s driver, Ricardo Hernandez, has been tagged as a person of interest in her death in Tuba, Benguet, now the subject of a full probe led by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Police Regional Office–Cordillera (PRO-COR).
Authorities aim to uncover all circumstances surrounding her death, especially as Cabral has been identified by the government as one of the suspected primary architects of the massive flood control anomalies in the DPWH.
“We want to find out the truth. This is for the good of everyone, not for the police, not for the media. This is for the sake of justice. We would like to find out the truth,” Acting PNP Chief Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Friday, Dec. 19.
Cabral was reported to have fallen from a cliff along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet on Thursday, Dec. 18.
Initial investigation revealed that she was dropped off by Hernandez along Camp 5 in Kennon Road at around 3 p.m. upon her request.
Two hours later, Hernandez returned to the hotel where Cabral was staying, only to find she had not come back.
He then reported her disappearance to the police.
Her body was later discovered at the bottom of a ravine approximately 20 to 23 meters deep around 8 p.m. and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said authorities were directed to conduct an autopsy and DNA testing to confirm her identity amid concerns of possible foul play.
While initial reports suggest no foul play, Remulla stressed that investigators are carefully following proper procedures.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño also disclosed that Cabral’s family had issued a waiver for an autopsy.
Hernandez, however, has been placed under close scrutiny.
“It goes against human nature to leave your principal or VIP in a remote place. You know that her bag and cellphone were inside the vehicle, so why would you only go back for her one or two hours later? How would you even contact her?,” Tuaño explained.
He clarified that being a person of interest does not automatically make Hernandez a suspect.
Nartatez has ordered PRO-COR to conduct an investigation within 36 hours to gather information on the driver before he is cleared.
Remulla noted there were lapses in the handling of some evidence during the course of investigation, which was acknowledged by Nartatez.
He stressed that Cabral’s cellphone and other belongings should have been seized immediately.
“Any death of this nature is considered a crime scene. There must be extensive investigation first before any information is released,” he said.
A PNP subpoena will be issued to compel Cabral’s family to surrender the devices and bag to investigators.
“We don’t like leaving any stones unturned. We need to examine every angle, which is also for the family’s benefit, to dispel any cover-up, whitewash, or similar concerns, and to allow for a thorough and proper assessment of the cause of Ms. Cabral’s death,” Nartatez added.
Cabral, who served as DPWH undersecretary for planning and public-private partnership (PPP), was among those tagged in the ongoing investigation into the alleged flood control corruption scam.
“Based on my knowledge, she was with [former DPWH] Undersecretary [for operations Roberto] Bernardo as the principal architects of the flood control scam,” Remulla said. (Martin Sadongdong)
