Following Former DPWH Usec’s Death, Cabral Family Headed to Benguet to Get Remains
CABRAL FAMILY – The kins of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral refused to have her remains under autopsy.
Amid the flood control mess in the Philippines wherein her name was implicated, countless Filipinos were shocked when former DPWH Usec. Maria Catalina Cabral was found dead due to an alleged fall from a cliff in Benguet. Her unconscious and unresponsive body was found around 20-30 meters near the river.
Cardo Hernandez, the driver of former DPWH Usec. Cabral, claimed that his boss allegedly asked to be left behind for a while. However, according to him, she was no longer there at the Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet when he returned.
The authorities recovered Cabral’s body near the Bued River. The initial reports of the police showed that she allegedly died from falling from the cliff. Her remains were brought to a local funeral parlor in Baguio City, Benguet.
The Cabral family rushed to Baguio upon hearing about the death of former DPWH Usec. Maria Catalina Cabral. Her hsuband, Cesar Cabral, even faced the reporters as he was mad about the proposal to have his wife’s body under autopsy.
Based on a report on GMA News, the Cabral family is satisfied with their belief that the death of former DPWH Usec. Maria Catalina Cabral is due to an “accident”. However, the justice authorities in Baguio as well as the Department of Interior and Local Govrnment (DILG) ordered a DNA test on the remains recovered near the Bued River to confirm her identity.
“Ako na nagsasabi, asawa ko ‘yan. Nanay nila ‘yan. Ano pa gusto nilang i-prove? Maghahanap sila ng ibang tao?” Cesar Cabral said.
Based on the report, the Cabral family signed a waiver as they do not want to have the remains of the former DPWH Usec. autopsied and they just want to take her remains home for Christmas. According to her husband, the former DPWH Official said she came to Benguet to unwind.
“Magpa-Pasko. Masamahan ko man lang ‘yung asawa ko ngayong Pasko… Nagpunta siya dito para mag-unwind,” Cabral’s husband said.
Cesar Cabral claimed that he was able to talk to his wife and he allegedly even asked her why she did not attend the meeting with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI). Following the shocking demise of his boss, the driver of former DPWH Usec. Maria Catalina Cabral recalled the events prior to her death.