Family of ex-DPWH Usec. Cathy Cabral declines autopsy; cites accidental death
The family of former DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina "Cathy" Cabral has declined an autopsy, stating they believe her death was accidental.
In an interview with GMA News Online, Cabral's husband, Engr. Cesar Cabral said that they are being asked to submit several requirements before his wife's body is released.
Cesar stated that they have signed a waiver but refuse to consent to an autopsy for his wife.
"Bakit ipapa-autopsy pa? Nakita naman yung sarili niya na ano, hihiwain mo pa? Kasi nakakita na ko ng ina-autopsy, talagang binubuksan ng buo tapos pinapabayaan na lang, iniiwan na lang nung mga nag autopsy. Ikaw ba, namatay ka na gusto mo pang anuhin? Gusto mo makita pa na, naghirap na nga yung tao, tapos hihiwain mo pa? Wala naman silang nakitang ano foul play," he said, referring to Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla's earlier statement that all of the injuries are consistent with blunt force trauma.
"Nagpakahirap ang asawa ko, 42 years in service tapos ayan ang nangyayari," he continued.
When asked if he could recognize his wife's body, he confirmed, saying, "Oo, kilala ng anak ko kaya nagbigay kami ng waiver."
He believes his wife’s death was accidental, noting that she had traveled to Baguio to "unwind" from the pressure of the ongoing flood control controversy—a topic he says they never discussed at home.
Despite their cooperation, Cesar says they are still waiting for a doctor to sign the death certificate. He expressed growing frustration over the requirement for DNA testing to confirm her identity.
"Bakit pinapahirap ang proseso?" he asked. "Eh kami na ng anak ko, ako na mismo nagsasabi na asawa ko yan, nanay nila yan. Ano pa ang gusto nilang i-prove? Maghanap sila ng ibang tao?"
"Aksidente 'yun," he emphasized.
Cesar also said that he hasn't seen Cathy's belongings since he arrived in Baguio, despite reports saying that they were turned over to the family.
"Aasikasuhin pa ba namin yung gamit? Siyempre unang aasikasuhin namin tao," he said.
Cabral's lawyer calls for compassion
In a separate statement released online Friday through Rep. Leandro Leviste, the family’s legal counsel, Atty. Mae Divinagracia, appealed for compassion toward the Cabrals.
"At this time, we respectfully urge everyone to refrain from actions, speculations or commentary that may compound the family’s grief," she wrote.
She said that the call to surrender her gadgets and other belongings, including conducting a DNA test, is "unwarranted" as no complaint has been filed against her to date.
"DNA testing is likewise unwarranted, given that her family has already positively identified her remains. Claims and insinuations that she and her family faked her death are not only insensitive and inappropriate, they are also utterly reckless and baseless," she said.
Divinagracia emphasized that Cathy is not involved in any alleged anomalous flood control projects. She shared how her client was a devoted public servant for four decades and that her character "guided her until the very end."
"It is unfortunate that in her final days, the reputation she had painstakingly protected was sullied by the accusations of former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, who advanced these claims at a time when he himself stood to benefit from shifting blame and deflecting responsibility. Suffice it to state, his testimony, which is the lone evidence linking her to the purported criminal conspiracy, remains entirely uncorroborated," she said.
She claimed that the only reason why Cathy didn't attend the Dec. 15 ICI hearing was that "she did not receive any official communication relating thereto."
"It is equally regrettable that despite the absence of any finding of fault, Ms. Cabral’s name would be repeatedly dragged in what appears to be a public shaming campaign by persons who have since capitalized on the issue for political gain," she said, asking that the former DPWH undersecretary may be remembered "with fairness and compassion."
Cathy allegedly fell to her death along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet, on Thursday evening, Dec. 18.
According to Benguet Police, she and her driver Ricardo Hernandez were on their way to La Union at around 3 p.m. when they made a stopover along Kennon Road where Cabral requested to be left alone.
Hernandez said he went to a nearby gasoline station before returning to the area at around 5 p.m., but Cabral was nowhere in sight.
The driver then searched all around the area before going to Cabral's hotel in Baguio City, but did not find her there. He then reported the incident to the police at around 7 p.m.
Authorities later found Cathy lifeless below the highway along a riverbank before being retrieved. Hernandez is now considered a person of interest in this case.