DECEMBER 29, 2025 — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ruled out foul play in the death of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, whose body was discovered at the base of a ravine along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet. Forensic reconstruction using 3D scanning technology indicated she may have slid down the slope rather than being pushed.

PNP Forensic Group officer-in-charge Col. Pierre Paul Carpio explained that the scan showed Cabral’s body landed only 0.2 meters from the ravine’s base, a distance inconsistent with being shoved. 

“Makikita n’yo rito na ang kamay ay may gasgas dito, pati likod. Ang laki ng probabilidad na nagpadausdos talaga siya,” Carpio said. 

(You can see here that her hands and back had abrasions. There is a high probability she slid down.)

Autopsy results confirmed blunt traumatic injuries from a fall, with death estimated between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on December 18. 

Toxicology tests revealed Cabral had been taking citalopram, an antidepressant known to cause drowsiness and affect judgment. Carpio noted that such medications are closely monitored because of potential links to suicidal behavior.

Cabral’s identity was verified through fingerprint analysis matched against National Bureau of Investigation records, though authorities are still awaiting DNA samples from relatives. Police have yet to examine her cellphone, which could provide crucial context.

Her death comes months after she resigned amid congressional probes into alleged irregular flood control projects. The Department of Justice had been preparing to refer a plunder case involving Cabral and other DPWH officials to the Ombudsman before her passing.

Many now ask if justice can still be served even when a central figure is gone. In a country where truth often slips through cracks, Cabral’s death is a reminder that unanswered questions can often weigh heavier than the facts themselves.

(Image: Philippine News Agency | Facebook)