A former senior Philippine government executive embroiled in a massive corruption scandal was found dead after an apparent fall from a cliff in the country’s north.
Former Public Works undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral (pic), 63, was reported to have fallen along Kennon Road in Tuba town, Benguet province, a mountainous area known for its steep terrain and winding roads.
Her driver told investigators she asked him to drop her off by the roadside at around 3pm on Thursday. He then drove to a petrol station, and went back to fetch her two hours later, but she was no longer there.
He said he went to the hotel where Cabral was staying, thinking she might be there. Sensing something amiss, he went to the police to report her as missing at 7pm. Cabral’s body was found at the foot of a cliff an hour later.
Interior and Local Government Minister Jonvic Remulla said in a news conference yesterday that the authorities had so far found “no foul play” in her death, but stopped short of saying whether it was an accident or suicide.
“There were no signs... But usually in these cases, you really can’t tell when things are happening,” he said.
Remulla said there had been lapses in securing the crime scene, and that the driver was being treated as a “person of interest”.
“There must be extensive investigation first. But the body was immediately turned over to the family. There should have been a mandatory holding period,” he said.
The family, however, had agreed to an autopsy, he said.
He said Cabral’s phone and laptop were also handed to the family instead of being secured first for forensic investigation.
Cabral was reportedly one of the “masterminds” of a “kickback system” at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
That scheme was said to have netted billions in public funds for several powerful politicians – including at least three senators and one congressman – and government contractors.
As undersecretary in charge of planning, Cabral oversaw the approval of infrastructure projects that politicians wanted to “insert” in the DPWH’s budget.
In hearings before Congress last month, former Public Works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo claimed that about 10% of the funds allocated for these projects were distributed among politicians, contractors and DPWH “insiders”.
Cabral oversaw this racket for former DPWH ministers Mark Villar and Manuel Bonoan, Bernardo told lawmakers.
Cabral had ignored summons from an independent fact-finding committee created by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to look into the public works bid-rigging scandal.
Remulla, the Interior Minister, said Cabral’s death would not stall the government’s efforts to prosecute and recover stolen money from those involved in the scam.
“No matter what you do, the law will go after you. In life and in death, the wheels of justice will turn. Whatever they do, we will go after them,” he said.
Congressman Percival Cendana said Cabral’s death “raises serious questions”.
“Who will benefit most from her death? Will the truth die with her? Will she be the ‘fall guy’ in this grand corruption scandal?” he said.
Since 2024, widespread allegations have emerged that at least US$2bil (RM8.1bil) intended for government flood-control and disaster-mitigation projects were mismanaged, diverted or stolen.
Many projects were found to be substandard, incomplete or “ghost” – never even built.
Former congressman Zaldy Co – who was implicated in “ghost” flood control projects worth millions – fled the Philippines in July, before charges could be filed against him.
Marcos earlier reached out to Malaysia and Singapore, where he said Co might be hiding his aircraft that were among his frozen assets. — The Straits Times/ANN
