Cheyenne Suarez

Cabral lawyer denies client received notice of hearing as ICI publicizes letter

Article (news)

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) -- The legal counsel of former Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral wrote a letter to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) dated December 16, 2025 to dispute news reports that the deceased official deliberately skipped its scheduled December 15 hearing.This, according to a received copy of the letter released to the media on Tuesday.In a 1-page letter signed by Atty. Mae Divinagracia and addressed to ICI Chairperson Andres Reyes Jr., it said that Cabral was not informed of the said hearing last year and that she did not receive any notice or communication from the ICI. &quot;To set the record straight, and contrary to news reports that are currently circulating, Ms. Cabral was not informed of today&#x27;s hearing. She did not receive any communication, let alone the purported subpoena, from the Honorable Commission about the same,&quot; Divinagracia stated in her letter. According to Divinagracia, her client has no intention of avoiding the ICI inquiry. <div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/3/cabral-s-death-shows-need-to-better-secure-witnesses-testimonies-lawyer-1030">READ: Cabral&#x27;s death shows need to better secure witnesses, testimonies — lawyer</a></div>In fact, Divinagracia said, Cabral appeared before the ICI on September 24 when she was subpoenaed by the Commission. In the said letter, when Cabral was still alive, Divinagracia assured the ICI that her client remains committed to cooperating with its investigation regarding the alleged anomalous flood control projects. Meanwhile, ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka explained the last scheduled hearing for 2025 was December 15 and it would have definitely invited Cabral again.But they were overtaken by events, with the resignation of its two commissioners and eventually the death of Cabral. &quot;As previously announced by the commission, the last hearing of the ICI for the year was Dec 15, 2025. 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&#x27;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,&quot; Hosaka told reporters when asked why did the ICI not reschedule the former DPWH official.When asked whether or not the ICI indeed sent a subpoena to Carbal, Hosaka said it was sent on Dec. 9 and was coursed through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).&quot;The ICI issued a subpoena dated Dec 9, 2025 to Usec. Cabral and it was coursed through the DPWH as is our procedure involving present and former DPWH officials and personnel. 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,&quot; he said.

The lawyer of former DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral wrote a letter to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to dispute reports she deliberately skipped its Dec. 15 hearing.

The lawyer of former DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral wrote a letter to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to dispute reports she deliberately skipped its Dec. 15 hearing.