Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Catalina Cabral was confirmed dead after her body was found in the Bued River in Tuba, Benguet.
She was pronounced dead at 12:03 a.m. on Friday, December 19. Police reports stated that Cabral had asked to be dropped off along Kennon Road while on her way to La Union at around 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 18.
Her driver returned to the area at about 5:00 p.m. but failed to find her. Believing she may have gone to a hotel in Baguio City, the driver checked the supposed location, but Cabral was not there.
The driver returned again to Kennon Road at around 7:00 p.m., only to confirm that Cabral was still missing. With no information on her whereabouts, the incident was reported to the police.
At around 8:00 p.m. the same day, authorities discovered Cabral lying unconscious and unresponsive along the Bued River, about 20 to 30 meters below the highway.
The incident was reported to the Tuba Municipal Police Station, and Cabral was later declared dead.
Cabral was among the key figures linked to controversial flood control projects and had been named in allegations involving a kickback scheme within the DPWH. She resigned from her post in September following her implication in the corruption scandal.
She had also been recommended for possible administrative charges for alleged violations of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, in connection with supposed irregularities in infrastructure projects, including a ₱95.04 million flood control project in Bocaue, Bulacan.