Inquirer
What Cabral knew and the questions she leaves behind
Former DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, once lauded as a "model" for "Women in Infrastructure," has been implicated in anomalies concerning flood control projects.
Cabral, who had a distinguished career in public works and engineering, reaching the rank of Undersecretary for Planning and PPP, was the first woman to achieve such a high position at the DPWH from the rank-and-file.
She began her career at the DPWH as a Civil Engineering Aide while pursuing her degree and steadily rose through the ranks after passing the licensure examination.
Despite her extensive experience, Cabral became a subject of scrutiny due to her alleged involvement in corruption scandals.
She failed to appear at a hearing by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on December 15, after having attended a congressional inquiry on September 9.
Tragically, Cabral was reported dead on December 19 after an alleged fall by the Bued River in Benguet.
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Lawmakers are calling for an investigation into the death of former DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral, who died after an alleged fall from a cliff along Kennon Road.
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Maria Catalina "Cathy" Cabral, a former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary implicated in a multi-billion flood control corruption scandal, was found unconscious in Benguet on Thursday night, December 18, and pronounced dead shortly after midnight on Friday, December 19.
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Former Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral was found dead at a ravine along Kennon Road, Camp 5, Tuba, Benguet.
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Former DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral was questioned by five Ombudsman prosecutors on December 3, 2025, about alleged irregularities in flood control projects, more than two weeks before her death.
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Remains discovered in Tuba, Benguet have been positively identified as those of former DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral, with the cause of death determined to be blunt force trauma consistent with a fall.
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