Ex-DPWH Undersecretary Cabral found dead at Bued River in Benguet; Investigations are yet to determine if it was accident, suicide, or foul play

Benguet, Philippines – Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral was declared dead on December 19 following an alleged fall along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet.

Police, as cited by the media, said Cabral, 63, was traveling with her driver toward La Union at around 3:00 p.m. on Thursday when she instructed the driver to drop her off at Maramal, Camp 5. The driver proceeded to a gasoline station and returned to the area at around 5:00 p.m. but failed to locate her, prompting him to seek assistance from the police.

At around 8:00 p.m., authorities discovered the former DPWH undersecretary’s body near the Bued River, approximately 20 to 30 meters below the highway. Police said she was found unconscious and unresponsive.

At 12:03 a.m. on Friday, December 19, Cabral was declared dead by the attending physician, Dr. Gian Frances Salinas.

Police said they are currently treating the incident as an alleged fall and that no foul play has been established so far as investigators continue to look deeper into the case.

Cabral, who had a long career in public works and highways and garnered numerous citations over the years, resigned as DPWH undersecretary in September 2025 after being implicated in alleged anomalous budget insertions. She appeared in a congressional hearing on September 9 but did not attend the hearing of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure on December 15.

Timeline Leading to Maria Catalina Cabral’s Death

• September 7–10, 2025 — Initial public scrutiny and allegations. Senator Panfilo Lacson alleges that Cabral was involved in controversial budget insertions related to the proposed 2026 national budget amid the ongoing probe into anomalous flood control projects.

  
  

• Mid-September 2025 — Resignation from DPWH. Cabral submits her courtesy resignation as DPWH Undersecretary for Planning and Public-Private Partnership amid the flood control project investigation; Secretary Vince Dizon accepts it.

  
  

• December 11, 2025 — Subpoena announcement. The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) says it intends to invite Cabral as a resource person in its investigation into anomalous flood control projects and possibly ghost or substandard projects.

  
  

• December 15, 2025 — Last ICI hearing of the year. The ICI holds its final hearing of the year and reportedly invited Cabral, but she does not attend.

  
  

• December 18, 2025 — Incident on Kennon Road, Benguet. Around 3:00 p.m., Cabral and her driver are traveling along Kennon Road toward La Union when she asks to be let out at Maramal, Camp 5. Around 5:00 p.m., the driver returns but cannot locate her and later reports her missing to authorities. Police and emergency responders search the area.

  
  

• December 18, 2025 — Discovery of her body. Later in the evening, authorities find Cabral unconscious and unresponsive near the Bued River, about 20 to 30 meters below the highway on Kennon Road.

  
  

• Early hours of December 19, 2025 — Death declared. Cabral is officially declared dead at around 12:03 a.m. on December 19, 2025. Initial police reports describe the incident as an alleged fall; investigations continue to determine whether it was an accident, suicide, or involved foul play.