DOJ: Plunder case involving Cabral, et al, about to undergo preliminary investigation

The Department of Justice (DOJ) was supposed to refer to the Ombudsman a plunder case that involved the late former Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral in relation to the alleged anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan before her death.

Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said the case, which was set for referral for evaluation to the Office of the Ombudsman, involves some Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials in the province, as well as proponents who may have benefited from the projects.

"We have one case which is being referred now for the evaluation of the Ombudsman involving Usec. Cathy Cabral... I think overtaken by events, because of what happened," Fadullon said in a press conference.

"Kung tinatanong ninyo kung may active PI na ongoing wala pa po. Magsisimula pa lang po sana yung preliminary investigation na kinakasangkutan niya... This is a case for plunder and involves several proponents as well," he added.

(If you're asking if there's an active preliminary investigation, there's still none. The preliminary investigations was about to start in the case she was involved in.)

"Ito 'yung mga kaso na di lang naglilimita sa mga officials ng Bulacan district engineering office but ito ay umakyat na, may mga evidence na nagtuturo rin sa mga proponent na nakinabang sa mga projects na to," he said.

(This case is not limited to the officials of the Bulacan district engineering office but also the proponents who may have benefited from the projects.)

Cabral was found “unconscious and unresponsive” about 20 to 30 meters below a highway on Thursday, several hours after she asked her driver to drop her off at a section of Kennon Road. The Tuba Municipal Station chief said a municipal doctor pronounced Cabral dead at the scene beside the Bued River at 12:03 a.m. on Friday.

According to Fadullon, while her death extinguished her from criminal liability, the DOJ will continue to file civil forfeiture cases against Cabral to preserve the assets under her name.

"Patuloy ang investigation na gagawin dahil hindi lang naman yan sa restitution... may iba't ibang paraan para alamin yan at ýan ay ginagawa kasalukuyan ng AMLC," he said.

(We will continue with the investigation because there are many ways to preserve the assets apart from restitution. The AMLC is currently doing that.)

"That is an ongoing investigation, which is still going to be undertaken, to try to preserve the assets under the name of Cabral," he added.

Police earlier said investigators probing Cabral's death will focus on the incident's potential links to the flood control corruption scandal. –NB, GMA Integrated News