Marilyn Cahatol

Former Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Catalina Cabral attends the Blue Ribbon Committee probe into anomalous flood control projects at the Philippine Senate on September 1, 2025.  Courtesy of the Senate of the Philippines Social Media Unit

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ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Philippine National Police on Sunday said it is investigating incidents that led to the death of former Public Works Undersecretary Ma. Catalina Cabral.</p><p>Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said an autopsy has &quot;cleared things up&quot; on the identity of Cabral&#x27;s remains and the manner of her death.</p><p>“The next step is to establish what really happened and this is now the focus of all our efforts in relation to this case,” the acting PNP chief, said.</p><p>The PNP said it has interrogated Cabral’s driver, who was with her before she <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">allegedly fell </a>from a cliff in Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet Thursday night.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/20/remulla-confirms-viral-selfie-of-cathy-cabral-s-driver-1710">Remulla confirms viral selfie of Cathy Cabral&#x27;s driver</a></div><p>Cabral&#x27;s family had initially refused to allow an autopsy but authorized one on Saturday. Her remains have since been brought to Manila.</p><p>The police agency said it has also taken other steps to find the truth behind the former Department of Public Works and Highways official’s death, which it called of &quot;national interest.&quot;</p><p>The PNP is also coordinating with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure  and other agencies to preserve evidence essential for the investigation into billions of pesos in flood control projects that may have been lost to kickbacks and to substandard construction.</p><div> </div><div><strong>TUBA POLICE CHIEF SACKED</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The PNP also said the municipal police chief of Tuba, Benguet has been relieved for lapses in the investigation.</p><p>The PNP also said strict internal supervision has been ordered in local police units involved in Cabral’s case to avoid further lapses.  </p><p>“We will continue to enhance training, strengthen oversight, and enforce accountability measures so that every investigation meets the standards expected by the public,” said Nartatez.</p><p>Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NationalBureauofInvestigationOfficial/posts/pfbid02vQZD4eawudkzKSJZ6L1R6Ub4vUeChZg1RUKXpxSWN3RXFq4PJYaMRD5NhLQizZ5yl">called </a>on motorists who passed through Kennon Road on December 18 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. who may have dashcam footage to share their recordings with the bureau.</p><p>&quot;Any information provided will be treated with strict confidentiality and used solely for lawful investigative purposes,&quot; it said. </p><p>Individuals with information may coordinate with the NBI through 09089780135 or <a data-fr-linked="true" href="mailto:nbiserves@nbi.gov.ph">nbiserves@nbi.gov.ph</a>.</p><p>Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said yesterday that the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/20/autopsy-showed-cabral-died-of-blunt-force-trauma-remulla-1609">autopsy </a>on Cabral&#x27;s remains showed she died of blunt force trauma.</p><p>Cabral was implicated in the flood control issue for allegedly leading the distribution of &quot;allocables&quot; to lawmakers, or projects inserted in the National Expenditure Programs of previous years. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/19/who-was-catalina-cabral-and-how-could-her-death-affect-flood-control-probe-1455">Who was Cathy Cabral, and how could her death affect flood control probe?</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tAGqWbekxqE?si=lgzUjO30XLmpEswI" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>“With the confirmation of her death, we were able to clear things up on the speculations of the identity of the remains. The next step is to establish what really happened and this is now the focus of all our efforts in relation to this case,” Acting PNP Chief Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. said.</p>

“With the confirmation of her death, we were able to clear things up on the speculations of the identity of the remains. The next step is to establish what really happened and this is now the focus of all our efforts in relation to this case,” Acting PNP Chief Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. said.

With Cabral's death confirmed, PNP to probe into 'what really happened' to ex-DPWH exec

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With Cabral's death confirmed, PNP to probe into 'what really happened' to ex-DPWH exec

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 21, 2025 12:22 PM PHT

Read More:

Cathy Cabral

flood control

PNP

NBI

corruption

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