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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Police probe Cabral death

Police probe Cabral death

Published Dec 19, 2025 10:06 am
CABRAL
CABRAL
BAGUIO CITY – Police are thoroughly investigating the death of former Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.
Cabral was found dead at around 8 p.m. on a 30-meter-deep ravine on Bued River in Sitio Maramal, Barangay Camp 4, Kennon Road, Tuba, Benguet, on Thursday, Dec. 18.
Her remains were recovered by the Tuba Municipal Police Station and Baguio City Police Office, with the Tuba Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Bureau of Fire Protection, and taken to hospital where she declared dead at around 12:03 a.m. Friday, Dec. 19, by Dr. Gian Frances Salinas.
Her body was found near the rock nettings inspected by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., on Aug. 24, 2025.
The Benguet Provincial Forensic Unit is currently conducting scene-of-the-crime processing.
Police are determining if Cabral committed suicide.
Cardo Hernandez, Cabral's driver, said they were on their way to Baguio City at around noon and he was instructed to stop on the side of Kennon Road where the rock nettings are located. Cabral went out of their vehicle and sat down on a concrete barrier on the side of the road.
Hernandez warned: ‘’Ma’am her don't get too close or you'll lose your balance and fall."
He returned to their vehicle and was told by the police not to linger in the area. They traveled to Baguio City, had lunch in a restaurant, and checked into a hotel on Legarda Road.
Hernandez said they drove back to the area at around 2:30 p.m.
She sat down on the concrete barrier again and ordered Hernandez to leave him. Hernandez left and went to a gas station.
Hernandez returned to the area and Cabral was no longer around. He looked around the area and she was nowhere to be found.
He asked a man nearby asked if he saw Hernandez but he did not. Hernandez again looked around the area again and still there was no sign of Cabral.
Hernandez returned to the hotel at around 5 p.m. but Cabral was not there.
Hernandez went back to Kennon Road hoping to see her but failed, prompting him to seek police assistance.
Police launched a search operation and located her body below a ravine.
Hernandez cried as he saw Cabral’s body being recovered by authorities. Her remains were taken to a funeral parlor here.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has condoled with the family of Cabral, a 40-year veteran of the agency.
Cabral resigned from the DPWH last September after she was implicated in the flood control controversy.

Related Tags

DPWH Deaths Flood control Tuba Benguet Catalina Cabral
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