Majority and minority congressmen have formally called for a House investigation into the mysterious death of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, a central figure in the flood control projects corruption scandal.
On Monday, Dec. 22, lawmakers filed House Resolution (HR) No. 606, directing the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability and the Committee on Public Works and Highways to probe the circumstances surrounding Cabral’s death.
The inquiry will focus on her alleged knowledge of the planning, approval, funding, and implementation of certain flood control projects that were reportedly anomalous, substandard, or non-existent.
Reports said Cabral died on Dec. 18 after she fell into a 30-meter deep ravine in Benguet.
The measure was introduced by Caloocan City 2nd district Rep. Egay Erice, Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima; Zamboanga del Norte 3rd district Rep. Adrian Michael Amatong; Akbayan Party-list Reps. Chel Diokno, Perci Cendaña, Dadah Kiram Ismula; Dinagat Island lone district Rep. Kaka Bag-ao; Kamanggagawa Party-list Rep. Eli San Fernando; Oriental Mindoro 2nd district Rep. Alfonso Umali Jr.; Albay 1st Krisel Lagman; and Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste.
“While the initial forensic examinations conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP), as confirmed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), attribute the cause of death to blunt force trauma resulting from the fall, the suspicious timing and nature of the incident, have led to intense public demand for a deeper inquiry, particularly in light of her reported familiarity with key government officials, contractors, and proponents linked to questionable DPWH projects,” read HR No.606.
The authors said that “issues have been raised regarding the apparent failure or insufficiency of action by government investigative, auditing, and oversight bodies to timely obtain material information from her, preserve relevant evidence, and/or provide appropriate protection despite her purported knowledge of possible irregularities”.
“These circumstances underscore the need to examine whether existing laws, rules, and institutional mechanisms governing infrastructure oversight, inter-agency coordination, and protection of individuals with material information are adequate, effective and properly implemented,” they said.
Diokno said that based on legislative inquiries, Cabral had deep knowledge of irregularities linked to infrastructure and flood control projects, including the contractors, proponents, and individuals allegedly behind the anomalies.
“Hindi lang niya alam ang mga kontratista at iba pang mga proponent at konektado sa proyekto, mukhang pati ‘yung mga sinasabi nating mga nasa likod nitong mga anomalya—kaya ‘wag nating hayaan na kasamang mailibing itong kaalaman [niya] sa kanyang libing din,” Diokno said. (Ellson Quismorio)
