House resolution filed to probe Cabral's death; former DPWH official's files now with authorities
The sudden death of former DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral is now the subject of a House resolution seeking a congressional investigation filed by 12 lawmakers on Monday, Dec. 22.
Cabral died on Dec. 19 after falling down a ravine off Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet. She was a central figure in the anomalous DPWH budget insertions allegedly worth billions of pesos. About a week before she died, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure issued a subpoena to Cabral to look into her supposed involvement, but she wasn't able to respond to the order.
Among the minority lawmakers who filed the resolution were Rep. Edgar Erice, Rep. Leila de Lima, Rep. Chel Diokno, and Rep. Eli San Fernando, according to a report by The Philippine STAR.
“We have to get to the bottom of this, we have to know not only what happened to her and what her actual genuine cause of death is, but also to find out what she knew and what we can still unearth based on the investigation that we will conduct,” Diokno said in a press conference.
House Resolution No. 606 asks the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability and the Committee on Public Works and Highways to determine the exact circumstances surrounding Cabral's death as these pertained to her DPWH role and her knowledge of the ghost flood control projects.
The resolution also seeks to address lapses in how law enforcement handles cases of high-profile individuals, such as Cabral, who are enmeshed in corruption investigations.
“Issues have been raised regarding the apparent failure or insufficiency of action by government investigative, auditing, and oversight bodies to timely obtain material information from her, preserve relevant evidence, and/or provide appropriate protection despite her purported knowledge of possible irregularities,” the resolution read.
The minority lawmakers who filed the resolution also hope it will delve into the roles of various individuals involved in anomalous projects, including project proponents, contractors, consultants, and public officials, as far as planning, approval, funding, and execution of the infrastructure projects are concerned.
In addition to the resolution, Diokno is also looking to file more specific bills connected to death investigations and autopsy laws. Such laws could expedite the issuance of cyber warrants, according to Diokno.
A cyber warrant legalizes the seizing of digital evidence in an investigation.
For Cabral's case, Diokno lamented how the application for a cyber warrant came too late.
“Yet it’s only the other day, based on the news, na merong nag-apply for cyber warrants,” he said, referring to how the Ombudsman mentioned the cyber warrant after Cabral’s death.
Cabral's files surrendered to authorities
The Philippine STAR also reported that Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said that documents linking Cabral's involvement in the supposed budget insertions have been turned over to the authorities.
“That said, I have always instructed my staff to consolidate and turn over whatever documents I have, whether from usec Cabral or any other sources, to the ICI, ombudsman or DOJ (Department of Justice), as we have been consistently doing since the time I delivered my two privilege speeches all the way to the Senate BRC (Blue Ribbon committee) investigations,” he said.
Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Leviste claimed he had certain documents shared by Cabral that could incriminate public officials, from Congress to the executive branch. He said they allegedly submitted proposals for DPWH projects worth millions to billions of pesos even while the president's 2025 budget was being prepared.
Lacson called for restraint in discussing such documents publicly; instead, he said such concerns should be left for the proper authorities to investigate.
“I’d rather give first the late usec Cabral’s family some space to grieve and mourn their loss. Matters of disclosing whatever files she shared before her death can still be done by concerned authorities at the proper time and venue,” he said.
