Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Rowegie Abanto

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176758961217920251219041248_5685c2ad-6b61-4045-8fa3-3eb6dface165_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Maria Catalina &quot;Cathy&quot; Cabral. House of Representatives/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The late public works undersecretary Maria Catalina &quot;Cathy&quot; Cabral did not turn over to her family or her legal team boxes of documents that could contain relevant information regarding budget insertions, her counsel said Monday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/3/cabral-s-death-shows-need-to-better-secure-witnesses-testimonies-lawyer-1030">Cabral’s death shows need to better secure witnesses, testimonies — lawyer</a></div><p>Lawyer Mae Divinagracia told ANC that the former Department of Public Works and Highways executive had shown them 6 boxes of documents, which the latter took out from her office.</p><p>The documents pertained to the preparation of the DPWH&#x27;s annual budget proposal from 2023 to 2025, Divinagracia said, adding that she had told Cabral to sift through the documents and submit to them only the relevant files. </p><p>But the lawyer clarified that the boxes had not yet been surrendered to them.</p><p>When asked where the files are located, she said, &quot;That&#x27;s what we don&#x27;t know, because before she passed on, she was supposed to give it to us. We didn&#x27;t know that this is how things will pan [out].&quot;</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><p>Does she consider the documents missing? Divinagracia said, &quot;I&#x27;m not sure. Well, we don&#x27;t have it in our possession. The family don&#x27;t know where they are, so we don&#x27;t know where it&#x27;s stashed at the moment.&quot;</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s not in their... Well, the last [time] we spoke, the last they looked for it in their house, it&#x27;s not there.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/3/leviste-hopes-ombudsman-will-release-cabral-files-to-the-public-1412">Leviste hopes Ombudsman will release ‘Cabral files’ to the public</a></div><p>Cabral was one of the former senior DPWH executives tagged in the flood control corruption scandal for her supposed role in insertions in the national budget, which her lawyer rejected in the interview.</p><p>Cabral was found dead last month after allegedly dying by suicide along Kennon Road in Tuba town in Benguet.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/31/leviste-refutes-accusation-he-took-cabral-files-by-force-it-s-a-cover-up-1157">Leviste refutes accusation he took Cabral files by force: &#x27;It&#x27;s a cover-up&#x27;</a></div><p>Divinagracia also said that during the interview with the Office of the Ombudsman, Cabral confirmed that Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste obtained documents from her office.</p><p>&quot;But for prudence&#x27;s sake, she could not authenticate the document until she is presented with the actual document that is with Congressman Leviste,&quot; said Divinagracia.</p><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sutK_eEwl94?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The late public works undersecretary Maria Catalina "Cathy" Cabral did not turn over to her family or her legal team boxes of documents that could contain relevant information regarding budget insertions, her counsel said Monday.</p>

The late public works undersecretary Maria Catalina "Cathy" Cabral did not turn over to her family or her legal team boxes of documents that could contain relevant information regarding budget insertions, her counsel said Monday.

Cabral files: 6 boxes of DPWH documents may be missing

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Cabral files: 6 boxes of DPWH documents may be missing

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 05, 2026 01:12 PM PHT

Read More:

Maria Catalina Cabral

Budget Insertions

DPWH

National Budget

Mae Divinagracia

Flood Control

Flood Control Scandal

Flood Control Corruption

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