CABRAL
BAGUIO CITY – An autopsy has been conducted on the remains of former Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Catalina Cabral.
Benguet police chief Police Col. Lambert Suerte remains in his post after successfully contacting her family for the autopsy.
The procedure was conducted on her remains from 12:02 a.m. to 3:45 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20.
Suerte said the autopsy was approved by Cabral’s husband, Engr. Cesar, after consultation with the family and in the presence of three lawyers.
He said that after the consultation, they agreed to conduct the autopsy and assured that all necessary legal procedures would be followed.
The autopsy will pave the way for a thorough investigation on the true cause of her death.
On Friday, Dec. 19, Suerte and Police Major Peter Camsol Jr., Tuba, Benguet Municipal Police Station chief, were relieved from their posts for allegedly mishandling the investigation of Cabral's death.
In a press conference, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said that they allegedly did not consider the scene of the incident to be a crime, because they did not close the area and the gravity of the situation, which should have been followed by all the rules of a possible crime.
Remulla said police had shortcomings in handling the crime scene and Cabral’s belongings were not given to the authorities, but to Cabral’s family.
The Police Regional-Cordillera Administrative Region confirmed the relief of Camsol and replaced him with Police Major Orville Wap, deputy chief of police of the La Trinidad MPS.
Meanwhile, a selfie of Cabral driver Cardo Hernandez is now circulating on social media, with her in the background, sitting on a concrete barrier on the side of Kennon Road before her death on Thursday.
Cabral's lawyer, Jesus Falcis, reportedly requested that the photo be removed from social media because it was allegedly not verified.