DPWH surrenders decade-long Cabral records to Ombudsman for investigation
By Trixee Rosel
At A Glance
- DPWH turns over decade-long records of the late Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral to the Ombudsman.
- Turnover led by DPWH undersecretaries Nicasio Conti, Arthur Bisnar, Ricardo Bernabe III, and Charles Calima Jr.
- Records include official files from the past 10 years and documents used in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).
- Ombudsman to conduct forensic review to verify integrity and completeness of the data.
On December 23, 2025, officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) turned over decade-long records of the late Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral to the Office of the Ombudsman for forensic review. (Photo courtesy of DPWH)
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Tuesday, Dec. 23, turned over computers and documents from the office of the late former Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral to the Office of the Ombudsman for forensic review amid an ongoing probe.
DPWH undersecretaries Nicasio Conti, Arthur Bisnar, Ricardo Bernabe III, and Charles Calima Jr. led the turnover of Cabral’s office records.
The department assured full cooperation with the Ombudsman and other authorities overseeing the investigation.
The records cover Cabral’s official files from the past 10 years.
Included in the files are documents used in the programming of the National Expenditure Program (NEP) as well as other related official materials.
The turnover followed a subpoena duces tecum issued by the Ombudsman on Monday, requiring the DPWH to produce all electronic devices issued to Cabral.
Authorities will conduct a forensic review of the devices and records to verify the integrity and completeness of the data.
Cabral, who died on Dec. 19 after a fall into a ravine in Barangay Camp 4, Tuba, Benguet, had played a key role in the government’s investigation of alleged irregularities in flood control projects nationwide.