Statement of Malacañang on Former DPWH Usec. Maria Catalina Cabral’s Death
Malacañang reacted to the death of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.
On Thursday eve, the police authorities found the lifeless body of former Public Works Usec. Maria Catalina Cabral near the river under the cliff at the Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet. The search operations came after her driver claimed that he could not find Cabral.
Former DPWH Usec. Maria Catalina Cabral was found dead due to an alleged fall from the cliff in Benguet as per the initial reports of the police authorities. According to her driver, Cardo Hernandez, Cabral allegedly asked to be left at the Kennon Road at 2:30 p.m. of Thursday. However, he supposedly could not find her when he returned after an hour.
Hernandez also claimed that he returned to the hotel to check on Cabral but she was not there so he reported it to the police authorities. The death of the former DPWH Undersecretary came amid the flood control issue in the Philippines wherein she’s one of those who are accused in the budget insertion issue.
Amid the ongoing investigation, the Ombudsman ordered the local authorities in Benguet to secure the gadgets of former DPWH Usec. Maria Catalina Cabral. Recently, Malacañang was asked about the death of the former DPWH Undersecretary.
Based on a post of News5 on social media, Malacañang press officer undersecretary Claire Castro extend the condolences of the Palace to the bereaved family of former DPWH undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral. She stressed that what happened is really saddening.
“Nakikiramay po tayo sa pamilya na naiwan ni former Usec. Catalina Cabral. Nakakalungkot po ang nangyari,” the Malacañang official said.
The remains of former DPWH Usec. Maria Catalina Cabral was brought to a local funeral parlor. As of this writing, her family has yet to issue a statement. According to her driver, he has worked for Catalina for 7 years and he is saddened over her death.
It was last September when Cabral tendered her resignation as the undersecretary of the DPWH to Public Works Chief Vince Dizon — which he accepted after two (2) days. Her resignation came amid the supposed multi-billion flood control corruption. She attended the flood control hearings several times.
Cabral’s sudden death sparked a lot of speculations. Recently, the DPWH issued a statement on the death of former Usec. Maria Catalina Cabral.