Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Catalina Cabral attended the Office of the Ombudsman on December 3, two weeks before her death, for questioning in connection with flood control project anomalies, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said.
“‘Yung mga prosecutors na kausap niya, ang observation nila ay nag-lawyer up na po si former Usec. Cabral, and there was not much information shared at the time that they conducted this inquiry or questioning. So ‘yung usapan pa kasi noon was for her to know what charges were forthcoming so that she could strategize also accordingly… The Office of the Ombudsman was willing to talk to her and to slowly gather information as she became more and more comfortable with the setting,” Clavano said.
Clavano added that Cabral was “willing to cooperate” during the preliminary talks.
“Assuming that she was being guided also by her lawyers not to give to much information at this point when she was invited for questioning or inquiry, so it would have been a process that we had to follow para po mas maging komportable siya to share and for her to express her cooperation in such a way na magagamit din namin ang mga ebidensya laban sa mga tao na mayroon siyang impormasyon,” he said.
Multiple individuals have accused Cabral of involvement in budget insertions for questionable projects. Reports indicate that she may have maintained a list of project proponents linked to these alleged insertions.
“Reports have reached us that mayroon talaga siyang listahan sana ng mga tao na nag-insert ng mga projects sa budget. So hindi pa natin nakikita itong listahan,” Clavano said.
He noted that a cyberwarrant would be required to access Cabral’s gadgets, which may contain the list.
Cabral was found near the Bued River in Tuba, Benguet, on December 18 following an alleged fall from a cliff.