Former DPWH undersecretary found dead near Kennon Road cliff

Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral was declared dead after she was found at the foot of a cliff along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet late Thursday night, police said.

Authorities reported that Cabral was discovered near the Bued River, an estimated 20 to 30 meters below the highway in Barangay Camp 4, Tuba. Rescuers found her unconscious and unresponsive at around 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18, following a search operation coordinated by local emergency units.

Tuba Municipal Police Station chief Maj. Peter Camsol said Cabral was pronounced dead at 12:03 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 19.

Based on initial police findings, Cabral had been traveling toward La Union earlier Thursday with her driver, identified as Ricardio Hernandez. While passing through Kennon Road, Cabral allegedly asked to be dropped off along the roadside in the Camp 5 area at around 3 p.m.

According to the driver’s account to police, he left the area as instructed and returned roughly two hours later to pick her up. When Cabral could no longer be found at the location, the driver initiated a search and subsequently sought assistance from authorities.

Personnel from the Tuba Municipal Police Station, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office responded to the report and conducted retrieval operations in the area where Cabral was believed to have fallen.

Scene-of-the-crime operatives also assisted in documenting the area and gathering evidence as part of the investigation.

Following recovery, Cabral’s remains were transported to a funeral parlor in Benguet, where they will remain as police continue to determine the circumstances surrounding her death.

Authorities said the incident is still under investigation and that they have not yet ruled out any possibility pending further examination and corroboration of evidence.

Police officials said coordination among local emergency and law enforcement agencies was crucial due to the steep terrain and difficult access to the area where Cabral was found.

Kennon Road, a major mountain highway connecting Benguet and La Union, has long been considered hazardous because of its sharp curves, steep slopes, and history of accidents and landslides.

Cabral had previously figured in high-profile controversies involving the DPWH. She was among former agency officials accused of facilitating budget insertions, commonly referred to as “allocables,” through the National Expenditure Program.

These alleged insertions later became the subject of administrative complaints and investigations.

Former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo had earlier alleged that Cabral participated in a kickback scheme involving substandard and so-called ghost flood control projects.

The projects allegedly benefited certain lawmakers and public officials, accusations that were being examined by oversight bodies.

Just last week, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure issued a subpoena directing Cabral to attend its hearings related to alleged irregularities in public works projects.

Police said she had not yet appeared before the commission prior to the incident in Benguet.

In light of her death, the Office of the Ombudsman moved to secure potential evidence relevant to ongoing investigations.

Upon confirmation of Cabral’s recovery, the anti-graft body directed Benguet authorities to take custody of and preserve her cellphone and other electronic gadgets.

These devices will be turned over to investigators at the appropriate time, according to Ombudsman spokesperson Mico Clavano. The Ombudsman has not indicated whether Cabral’s death will affect the status of pending cases connected to the alleged DPWH anomalies.

Authorities said further updates will be released once additional findings become available, including the results of forensic examinations and the completion of police fact-finding efforts surrounding the incident.