Photo from Philippine News Agency (PNA)
The body of former Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina “Cathy” Cabral has been released to her relatives, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday.
Cabral was found dead below Kennon Road in Benguet province after falling to the rocky bottom of a ravine.
The PNP said the next step in the investigation is to question her driver, Ricardo Muños Hernandez, as part of evidence-gathering.
Hernandez reported Cabral missing around 5 p.m. on Thursday, two hours after leaving her on the side of Kennon Road in Barangay Camp 4, Tuba town.
He claimed that Cabral asked to be left there alone and she was later found unresponsive around 8 p.m., confirming her death.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding her fall and are focusing on Hernandez as part of the ongoing inquiry.
The release of Cabral’s body allows her family to begin funeral arrangements, while the PNP gathers additional evidence to clarify the events leading to the incident.
Cabral was supposed to appear before the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) on December 15, 2025, for her involvement in the flood control scam.