Attorney Denies Claims Linking Cabral to Benguet Rep. Eric Yap
Attorney Mae Divinagracia strongly denied rumors linking the late former DPWH undersecretary Maria Catalina “Cathy” Cabral to Benguet Representative Eric Yap, stating that there was no romantic relationship and no evidence to support the claims. She emphasized that such gossip is unfair and harmful, particularly to women working in government.
The lawyer explained that Cabral did not approve or oversee construction projects, as these responsibilities were handled by district engineers and regional directors under a different office in the DPWH, not under Cabral’s department for planning and partnerships. According to her, the rumors likely arose because some people believed certain lawmakers received projects, but this does not imply that Cabral was personally involved.
Cabral was known for rising from a regular employee to becoming a DPWH undersecretary in 2014, making her the first woman in the department to reach that position through years of service. She was highly respected in the engineering field, becoming the first female national president of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, later leading other professional organizations, teaching at universities, and contributing to public service.
In 2025, her name was linked to a controversy involving alleged added budget items and possible illegal payments related to flood control and other public projects. This led to Senate hearings and scrutiny over her role. Due to mounting pressure, she resigned in September 2025 but was still asked to attend hearings as a private citizen. Shortly after, documents reportedly detailing budget allocations and projects were made public, attracting further attention, although authorities questioned their source and accuracy. Cabral was married and had one daughter and was also recognized for her charitable work, particularly during the pandemic, when she supported hospital frontliners.
On December 18, 2025, Cabral was found unconscious near the Bued River along Kennon Road in Benguet after reportedly asking her driver to drop her off in the area earlier that day. She was declared dead shortly after midnight on December 19, with her body discovered below the highway.