Majority and minority congressmen have formally sought a House inquiry on the mysterious death of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, a key figure in the flood control projects corruption scandal.

Filed on Monday, Dec. 22 was House Resolution (HR) No.606, which tasked the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability and Committee on Public Works and Highways to look into the circumstances surrounding Cabral's death "in relation to her alleged knowledge of the planning, approval, funding, and implementation or 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-mete ravine in Benguet. Suffice it to say that the circumstances were eyebrow-raising.

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 "ssues 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.

(She does not only know the contractors and other proponents connected to the project, it seems she also knows those who we say are behind these anomalies—so let us not allow that knowledge [of his] to be buried along with him in his burial as well.)

“We have to get to the bottom of this, we have to know not only what happened to her and what her actual genuine cause of death is, but also to find out what she knew and what we can still unearth based on the investigation that we will conduct,” he added.

Meanwhile, Diokno also questioned the timing of applications for cyber warrants related to the case, particularly involving DPWH officials.

He recalled urging DPWH officials, led by Secretary Vince Dizon, as early as two months ago to make use of cyber warrants and preserve the electronic devices of DPWH officials involved in the anomalies.

“Yet it’s only the other day, based on the news, na merong nag-apply (that somebody applied) for cyber warrants,” Diokno said, as he expressed concern that the move came only after Cabral’s death despite its urgency.

Diokno said the delay in seeking cyber warrants is among the key issues that Congress intends to scrutinize as part of its investigation.