DNA testing on body, retrieval of Cabral’s gadgets orderedPhoto provided by the Benguet police shows officers inspecting the spot where former DPWH undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral (top inset) fell to her death in Sitio Marammal, Barangay Camp 4, Tuba, Benguet. Cabral was among the government officials being investigated by the ombudsman in connection with the flood control project anomalies. A career DPWH official, she resigned from her post last September after being implicated in the alleged budget insertions for ghost flood control projects in exchange for kickbacks. “Because she was the one who supposedly inserted (flood control projects) in the NEP (National Expenditure Program),” he said. Remulla explained the positive identification by Cabral’s family is not enough, given that there have been other wanted fugitives who faked their own deaths to elude arrest.

Source: Philippine Star December 19, 2025 20:58 UTC