EDITOR’S NOTE: This article includes mention of suicide. Those in distress may call the phone numbers listed at the end of the report.
BAGUIO CITY—The mysterious death of former public works undersecretary Catalina Cabral has prompted growing concern over the handling of evidence by police and the transparency of the investigation.
Cabral was discovered unconscious along the Bued River in Tuba, Benguet, at about 8 p.m. on Dec. 18 and pronounced dead hours later.
But with her central role in the ongoing investigation into corruption in government flood control and other infrastructure projects, the circumstances surrounding her death have sparked suspicion, particularly regarding the integrity of the site where she was found and the subsequent police actions.
Cabral’s remains were brought back to Manila early on Dec. 21, but the events leading to her death remain unclear. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has since told ANC’s Karen Davila that he thinks she died by suicide.
Driver’s account
Tuba Councilor Arnulfo Milo was among the first to note that Cabral and her driver, Ricardo Hernandez, were seen around 8 a.m. on Dec. 18 near a roadside stall by a gas station in Sitio Maramal, Barangay Camp 4, on Kennon Road in Tuba, about 100 meters from where her body was later found.
Milo recalled that police officers had warned Cabral and Hernandez to move their vehicle because it was obstructing traffic. An hour later, police issued a second warning to them. “At that time, we didn’t know the woman was Undersecretary Cabral,” Milo said.
A selfie taken by Hernandez at 9:11 a.m. confirmed their presence in the area, and authorities later cited this as evidence. After the brief stop, the pair proceeded to Ion Hotel in Baguio City, where they checked into separate rooms.
Around 2 or 3 p.m., the pair returned to Kennon. According to Hernandez’s statement to police, Cabral told him to drop her off by the roadside and then he headed to a nearby gas station to wait.
Milo confirmed that Hernandez parked at the gas station, which has a full view of the spot where he had left Cabral. At 5 p.m., per his account, Hernandez returned to the area but found no trace of Cabral. He then drove back to the hotel but did not find her there either. He returned to the roadside spot at 7 p.m. to search once more, and finally reported Cabral to the police as missing.
Cabral was discovered by police around 8 p.m. some 20 to 30 meters below the highway, along the Bued River. She was retrieved hours later and subsequently pronounced dead.
Crime scene
Remulla had earlier pointed out that authorities failed to immediately secure Cabral’s mobile phone at the site—a lapse he described as significant. He said the site should have been treated as a crime scene from the outset, with proper protocols followed to preserve evidence.
In light of these issues, PMaj. Peter Camsol Jr., Tuba municipal police chief, was relieved of his post. The Benguet provincial police director, PCol. Lambert Suerte, retained his post after managing to convince Cabral’s spouse and children to allow an autopsy, which the family had initially refused.
The results of the autopsy conducted on Dec. 20 confirmed that Cabral’s death was caused by blunt traumatic injuries consistent with a fall, although the exact circumstances remain unclear. DNA testing is still pending.
According to Mamamayang Liberal Leila de Lima, a former justice secretary, an autopsy and DNA testing are critical in establishing the facts in cases of suspicious deaths.
Ion Hotel had initially refused to allow authorities access to CCTV footage or guest records, citing data privacy laws. In a statement, the hotel’s legal counsel, Perlita C. Rondez, said it would fully cooperate with authorities and provide information that may be required but only through legal channels.
Investigators secured on Dec. 20 a search warrant that allowed them to obtain the hotel’s records and review the CCTV footage.
But on Dec. 21, Rondez announced on Facebook her resignation, effective Dec. 20, as legal counsel for Ion Hotel, citing a focus on her well-being. “I will not be making further statements on the matter,” she said.
Continuing investigation
The Philippine National Police has formed a “Special Investigation Task Group Cabral” to ensure a thorough and transparent inquiry. On Dec. 21, scene-of-the-crime operatives led a reenactment of the events along the Bued River and examined evidence recovered from the site.
No evidence of foul play has been found so far. Authorities are looking into Cabral’s communications, as well as her purpose for the trip to Baguio, why she asked to be dropped off at the roadside, and why Hernandez took hours to report her disappearance.
Hernandez remains in police custody for further investigation.
Remulla has said Cabral once owned Ion Hotel, of which Benguet Rep. Eric Yap is now the apparent owner.
But Ion Hotel has denied any connection to Cabral or Yap. “They have no involvement whatsoever—direct or indirect—in the ownership, management, or operation of the hotel,” it said in a statement.
The Yap family has been linked to a corruption investigation involving Silverwolves Construction Corp. and a ₱16-billion flood control contract. The company’s assets, along with the personal bank accounts of Benguet Representative Yap and his brother, ACT-CIS Rep. Edvic Yap, have been ordered frozen by the Court of Appeals.
Cabral, who resigned from the Department of Public Works and Highways in September following allegations of irregularities in flood control projects, was summoned by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) days before her death. She did not make an appearance.
ICI executive director Brian Hosaka has named Cabral as a key figure in the inquiry into a kickback scheme involving billions of pesos funneled to lawmakers and other officials.
The area where Cabral’s body was discovered is a few minutes’ drive from anomalous projects involving a damaged rock shed and rock netting that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspected in August together with Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Tuba Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan.
Those needing help may call 911 for emergencies (Smart City Command Center) or reach the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) Hotlines at 1553, 1800-1888-1553, 0917 899 8727 (Globe/TM) or 0919 057 1553 (Smart/TNT).
Free online psychosocial support is also available through NCMH’s Telemental Health Response: https://www.ncmhusaptayo.com.
