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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Cabral was willing to attend ICI hearings, but did not get any invitation — lawyer

Cabral was willing to attend ICI hearings, but did not get any invitation — lawyer

Published Jan 6, 2026 04:24 pm
DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral participates in a Senate hearing on infrastructure planning and public-private partnership projects. (Senate photo)
DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral participates in a Senate hearing on infrastructure planning and public-private partnership projects. (Senate photo)
Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Catalina Cabral was actually willing to attend further hearings of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) prior to her death that surprised the nation, but she did not reportedly receive any invitation from the body.
This was revealed in a letter sent by Cabral's lawyer to the body on Dec. 15, but was only disclosed to the media by ICI on Tuesday, Jan. 6.
In a letter addressed to ICI Chairman Andres Reyes Jr., which ICI also signed upon receipt, lawyer Mae Divinagracia, Cabral's legal counsel, said the former DPWH undersecretary did not deliberately skip the Dec. 15 hearing.
But "to set the record straight, and contrary to news reports that are currently circulating, Ms. Cabral was not informed of today's hearing," according to Divinagracia.
She said, Cabral did not receive any communication, "let alone the purported [s]ubpoena, from the Honorable Commission about the same."
"Ms. Cabral has no intention whatsoever of avoiding inquiry. You will recall that when subpoenaed on 24 September 2025, Ms. Cabral appeared before this Honorable Commission and responded to all questions without any hesitation," the letter read.
"Furthermore, on 29 September 2025, in the exercise of prudence, she in fact sent her representative to inquire if her presence would still be needed for the hearing on the said day," the letter added.
Cabral, her lawyer said, was only informed to just wait for a subpoena from ICI.
"Rest assured that Ms. Cabral remains committed to cooperating with this Honorable Commission in ferreting out the truth on the alleged flood control project anomalies," the Dec. 15 letter read.
On Dec. 18, Cabral, who held so much information on the anomalies in the flood control projects, was found dead in a ravine in Tuba, Benguet. Investigators said its probe showed Cabral jumped to her death, and there was no foul play.
Sought for clarification, ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka said ICI issued a subpoena to Cabral that was dated Dec. 9, 2025.
However, "it was coursed through the DPWH as is our procedure involving present and former DPWH officials and personnel," according to Hosaka.
"We also announced in a press conference last Dec. 11, 2025 that Usec. Cabral was asked to appear before the commission on Dec. 15, 2025," he added.
Just the same, Hosaka said, "should there have been any subsequent hearings by the commission, Usec. Cabral would have definitely been invited again especially with her willingness to appear as manifested in her lawyer’s letter."
"However, we were overtaken by events with the resignation of two of our commissioners and of course by the death of Usec. Cabral," he added.

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Catalina Cabral ICI flood control probe
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