PNP: Flood control mess among angles in Cabral death probe

Investigators looking into the death of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral will focus on the incident's potential links to the flood control corruption scandal, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday.

In a statement, the PNP said "the allegations of Cabral's involvement in the flood control issue will also be among the angles that police investigators would focus on."

PNP acting chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said "I have already ordered a thorough investigation into this incident for us to have a clear picture of what happened."

"While there was already an initial impression regarding what happened, we should not rule out any factor until our forensic investigators are able to establish the cause of death and the circumstances surrounding it," he added.

Cabral resigned in September amid the congressional investigations into anomalous flood control projects and alleged kickbacks by lawmakers and government officials.

Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) spokesperson and Executive Director Brian Keith Hosaka said on December 11 that the ICI would invite Cabral as a resource person in its investigation into substandard and ghost or non-existent flood control projects.

READ | Who was ex-DPWH undersecretary Catalina Cabral?

Former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, in an affidavit he read before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, implicated several lawmakers and former DPWH officials, including Cabral, in the collection of kickbacks from the anomalous projects.

On Thursday evening, Cabral was found "unconscious and unresponsive" about 20 to 30 meters below a highway, several hours after she asked her driver to drop her off at a section of Kennon Road.

The Tuba Municipal Station chief later said a municipal doctor pronounced Cabral dead at the scene beside the Bued River at 12:03 a.m. on Friday.

According to the police, Cabral and her driver were traveling along Kennon Road to La Union around 3 p.m. on Thursday when she requested to stop at Maramal, Camp 5, Camp 4, and asked to be left there.

The driver returned to the area around 5 p.m. but Cabral was not there. He later sought police assistance at about 7 p.m. after further efforts to find Cabral proved unsuccessful.

Baguio police went to the scene and found the victim at the side of the Bued River.

"We appeal to the public, especially the netizens, to refrain from speculating and wait instead for the official result of the investigation," Nartatez said.

"On the part of the PNP, we will continue providing assistance in the ongoing investigation and case build-up on the bigger issue of flood control in the interest of truth and accountability," he added. 

Also on Friday, the Benguet police told Dobol B TV that the family of Cabral has expressed willingness to allow an autopsy on her body. 

Crime scene 'lapses'

Meanwhile, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said crime scene investigators committed some "lapses" when they turned over Cabral's cellphone and other belongings that were recovered from the ravine.

Remulla added that "we are doing everything" so that all items would be retrieved.

"The cellphone will be analyzed later. We're asking it from the family kasi kinuha nila (because they took it). So we're gonna ask it later," he added.

Benguet Police provincial director Police Colonel Lambert Suerte earlier said cops have yet to secure Cabral's belongings, including her cellphone and vehicle, as these were turned over to the family after her body was found.

The family was advised not to delete any information from Cabral's cellphone, Suerte said.

Person of interest

According to Nartatez, Cabral's driver is now considered a person of interest in the case as he may have information about the incident. Her vehicle will also be checked for other pieces of evidence. 

Remulla said Cabral's remains will undergo DNA testing to confirm her identity, and an autopsy to determine the cause of her death. 

He said that based on initial reports, there was no foul play.

The DILG chief said Cabral's computers will also undergo examination, following the issuance of a subpoena by the Sandiganbayan, the Office of the Ombudsman, or the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

The fact-finding Independent Commission for Infrastructure likewise called for a thorough probe into Cabral's death to ensure that there was no foul play.

If there was indeed foul play, however, the ICI said "those responsible may also be connected to the anomalous infrastructure projects."

"Usec. Catalina Cabral was one of the central figures in the on-going investigation of anomalous government infrastructure projects. As the former undersecretary for planning, she was no doubt privy to vital information," the ICI added. — VDV, GMA Integrated News