Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Rhen De Guzman

Carmelle Lacuata

Jeff Caparas

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (2nd UPDATE) — The family of former Department of Public Works (DPWH) Undersecretary Catalina Cabral will not have her remains autopsied.In an interview, Engr. Cesar Cabral said the decision was made after authorities and medical personnel, including an NBI medico-legal officer, examined his wife’s body and found no indications of criminal involvement.“Sa akin, hindi. Nakita naman nila. Wala namang puwedeng sabihin na may foul play. Tiningnan na rin ng NBI, medico,” Cabral said.He explained that he personally saw his wife’s injuries, which he described as minor abrasions on her hands and feet, consistent with an accidental fall.“Nakita ko mismo ang kondisyon ni Cathy—may gasgas lang sa paa at kaunti sa kamay. Kaya sabi ko, huwag na. Wala namang kahina-hinala,” he added.Cesar Cabral said his wife had gone to Baguio simply to unwind amid mounting work pressure, noting that she had also recently taken short trips to Batangas for the same purpose.“Ang sabi niya bago siya umakyat ng Baguio, mag-u-unwind lang. Para mawala ‘yung pressure,” he said.He added that he even asked his wife why she skipped a scheduled ICI hearing earlier in the month.“Kinuwestiyon ko pa nga kung bakit hindi siya um-attend. Sabi niya, minsan iba ‘yung takbo ng mga gano’n,” Cabral said.According to him, it was normal for his wife to be away for a day or two before returning home.“One day or two days lang ‘yan nawawala, tapos babalik na sa bahay,” he said.Cabral said the controversy and speculation surrounding the incident have taken an emotional toll on their family, especially their two children.“Naapektuhan na ang pamilya ko, pati mga bata. Sobra na minsan, nakakasira,” he said.With Christmas approaching and his eldest child’s birthday falling on December 31, Cabral said their only wish is to grieve privately and be together as a family.“Ang hangarin lang namin, magsama-sama ngayong Pasko. Ayaw namin ng exposure. Simple living lang kami, ever since,” he said.Responding to criticism and speculation about his wife’s career, Cabral emphasized that Undersecretary Cabral rose through the ranks after decades of public service.“42 years in service siya. From the lowest ranks, pinagdaanan niya lahat hanggang maging undersecretary,” he said.He also highlighted her achievements in the field of civil engineering.“Dedicated siya sa trabaho. Siya ang kauna-unahang babaeng naging presidente sa civil engineering—first Filipino achiever,” he added.Addressing questions about the driver, Cardo Hernandez, who was last with his wife, Cabral said he does not believe the driver had anything to do with the incident.“Hindi. Si Cardo, kilala namin ‘yan. Ever since, gano’n ang ugali niya,” he said, stopping short of elaborating further.Cabral appealled to the public to allow the family to mourn in peace and to recognize his wife’s legacy of service rather than focus on speculation surrounding her death.In a separate statement shared online on Friday by Rep. Leandro Leviste, Cabral’s legal counsel Atty. Mae Divinagracia called for compassion for the Cabral family.She also reiterated that despite being implicated in the flood control scandal, there was no complaint filed yet against Cabral, and the calls for seizure of her phone and other belongings, as well as DNA testing, are unwarranted.“It is equally regrettable that despite the absence of any finding of fault, Ms. Cabral’s name would be repeatedly dragged in what appears to be a public shaming campaign by persons who have since capitalized on the issue for political gain,” she said.“Above all, we ask that Ms. Cabral be remembered with fairness and compassion, and that her family be spared further distress as they navigate this period of profound sorrow,” Divinagracia added.Cabral died Thursday after allegedly falling into a ravine along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet.Cabral was implicated in alleged budget insertions and kickbacks from multibillion-peso flood control projects.Cabral earlier denied allegations linking her to 2026 budget insertion, according to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon.As Undersecretary for Planning and Public-Private Partnership, Cabral was in charge of preparing the DPWH&#x27;s budget and oversees infrastructure planning and programming, as well as the public-private partnership projects that the agency implements.She later resigned from her post.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/18/former-dpwh-usec-cabral-found-unconscious-after-falling-from-benguet-cliff-police-say-2355">READ: Former DPWH Usec Cabral dies after alleged fall from Benguet cliff</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/19/ici-tells-investigators-ensure-no-foul-play-in-cabral-death-0858">READ: ICI tells investigators: &#x27;Ensure no foul play’ in Cabral death</a></div><div> </div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FgvawVsrL5w??si=_b2_aujPRuVt0mqV&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

The family of former Department of Public Works (DPWH) Undersecretary Catalina Cabral will not have her remains autopsied.

The family of former Department of Public Works (DPWH) Undersecretary Catalina Cabral will not have her remains autopsied.

Cathy Cabral’s family won’t have her remains autopsied; believes her death is accidental

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Cathy Cabral’s family won’t have her remains autopsied; believes her death is accidental

Rhen De Guzman,

Rose Carmelle Lacuata,

Jeff Caparas,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 19, 2025 08:26 PM PHT

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Updated December 20, 2025 12:30 AM PHT

Read More:

Catalian Cabral

death

accident

autopsy

DPWH

flood control projects

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