Ombudsman secures computer, gadgets, files of late DPWH Usec Cabral
The Office of the Ombudsman officially received on Tuesday, Dec. 23, the computer, other electronic gadgets and files of the late Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the DPWH turned over the objects specified in the subpoena duces tecum the Office of the Ombudsman issued to DPWH last Monday.
“The CPU and files of Undersecretary Cabral have been sealed and delivered to the custody of the Office of the Ombudsman. It will remain sealed until we are able to do a digital forensic test,” Clavano said.
Cabral was one of the key players in the highly controversial flood control anomalies which involved the DPWH, other government officials, and several private contractors.
She was being investigated by the Office of the Ombudsman for her involvement in the multi-billion-peso scam. She last appeared before Ombudsman officials last Dec. 3.
Clavano said that Cabral’s involvement in the scam was "on a systematic scale."
"I wish I could divulge everything, but due to confidentiality purposes and to preserve our leads, I cannot give names or specifics. I believe there were at least five prosecutors that she was talking to, asking about different cases where she was involved," he also said.
"I guess the only public example of that was her text message to Senator Tito Sotto where she asked what projects he wanted to insert into the National Expenditure Program (NEP). So, that’s already an indicator of the system that she was a part of," he added.
Cabral was found unresponsive at the side of Bued River, around 20 to 30 meters below the highway in Tuba, Benguet late last Dec. 18. The police confirmed her death in the early morning of Dec. 19.
The police had also confirmed that the recovered body was Cabral’s.