BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Benjamin Magalong said he is convinced there was no foul play in the death of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, whose body was found in Barangay Camp 4, Kennon Road, Tuba, Benguet, on Dec. 18.
“Personally, I am convinced that there was no foul play, and I also have no doubt that the person who was recovered is Cabral,” Magalong stated after the Philippine National Police (PNP) Forensic Group presented the results of multiple technical examinations.
Magalong, a retired PNP general and seasoned investigator, emphasized that available evidence points to accidental circumstances.
Findings indicate Cabral died from injuries sustained after falling from a high place.
An autopsy report confirmed she suffered blunt traumatic injuries to the head, torso, and left side of her body, along with fractures to the femur, tibia, and fibula, a dislocated hip joint, and other extensive trauma consistent with a high-impact fall.
Her estimated time of death was between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on December 18, the day she was last seen alive.
Magalong cautioned against misinterpretation or sensationalism, noting that items recovered from Cabral’s personal belongings were properly documented during the investigation.
He stressed that conclusions must rely on verified forensic evidence rather than speculation. (Zaldy Comanda)
