Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla holds a press conference on Dec. 19, 2025 on the death of former Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral. Karen de Guzman, ABS-CBN News

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Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766137995191jonvic.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla holds a press conference on Dec. 19, 2025 on the death of former Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral. Karen de Guzman, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED)</strong> — The death of former Public Works Undersecretary Catalina Cabral will not stop the government’s investigation into alleged corruption in flood control projects, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Friday.</p><p>Remulla stressed that death will not shield any of the accused from accountability, particularly in cases involving the recovery of allegedly stolen public funds.</p><p>“Ang pagkamatay na isang tao ay hindi ibig sabihin titigil ang gulong ng hustisya. Hahabulin namin ang lahat ng nakaw-yaman, buhay o patay,” Remulla said.</p><p>(The death of a person does not mean the wheel of justice will stop turning. We will go after all the thieves, living or dead)</p><p>He said that as long as there is evidence against anyone, the government will keep working to retrieve stolen funds.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/19/ici-tells-investigators-ensure-no-foul-play-in-cabral-death-0858"><strong>ICI tells investigators: &#x27;Ensure no foul play’ in Cabral death<br/></strong></a></div><p>Remulla warned other accused individuals involved in the controversy to face the charges against them, saying &quot;death will not protect you&quot; and would shame their families more.</p><p>“Face up to the charges, man up to the charges, answer the charges, and have faith in the judicial system,” he said.</p><p>He said that even if a suspect dies, the government can still follow leads and trace money and assets.</p><p>The Palace on Friday stressed that while the Independent Commission for Infrastructure had recommended further investigation of Cabral, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/19/palace-up-to-agencies-to-investigate-former-dpwh-usec-cabral-s-death-1233">no formal cases had been filed against her</a>.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/19/pnp-to-probe-ex-usec-cabral-s-death-we-should-not-rule-out-any-factor-1202">PNP to probe ex-Usec. Cabral&#x27;s death: &#x27;We should not rule out any factor&#x27;</a></div><p>Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is leaving the investigation into Cabral&#x27;s death to law enforcement agencies.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1206484218247302%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><div><strong>ALLEGED ROLE IN FLOOD CONTROL SCAM</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Remulla said both the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice are actively pursuing leads in the flood control corruption case, in which Cabral has been tagged as one of the alleged masterminds.</p><p>He said that as the undersecretary for planning, Cabral had the power to allocate money and approve projects.</p><p>Remulla added authorities will seek and autopsy as well as DNA testing to confirm that the body retrieved alopng the Bued River in Benguet is Cabral&#x27;s.</p><p>“The family positively identified her already, but we cannot rely on that alone,” Remulla said.</p><p>However, Philippine National Police spokesperson PBGen. Randulf Tuaño said Cabral’s family has already signed a waiver declining the conduct of an autopsy.</p><p>“Ganunman, ito ay pinag-aaralan ng ating legal officers kung ano ang gagawin ng PNP para masiguro natin na ‘yung namatay ay totoong katawan nung deceased,” Tuaño said. </p><p>(Even so, our legal officers will see what the PNP can do to verify the identity of the body)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/19/lawmakers-seek-probe-into-cabral-s-death-protection-of-flood-control-evidence-1612">‘Will truth die with her?’: Lawmakers seek probe into Cabral&#x27;s death, protection of flood control evidence</a></div><p>Initial reports indicate no foul play, but the PNP has been directed to conduct a thorough investigation to examine all possible angles.</p><p>Authorities are also conducting backtracking operations, gathering CCTV footage from locations visited by Cabral and her driver, and preparing subpoenas to access her cellphone, computers, and laptops.</p><p>Personal belongings found inside the vehicle have already been turned over to her family.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>CABRAL’S DRIVER A PERSON OF INTEREST IN CASE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The PNP disclosed Cabral’s driver, who was last seen with her, is now being treated as a person of interest.</p><p>Police said the driver will be examined for up to 36 hours as part of efforts to determine his possible involvement and to clarify the circumstances surrounding Cabral’s death.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766122040073photo-collage.png_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said the driver of former DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral is now considered a &quot;person of interest&quot; following her sudden death Thursday night. ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><p>He said the driver&#x27;s actions, like leaving his employer in a secluded area without her mobile phone and bag, were contrary to &quot;human nature&quot;</p><p>Acting PNP Chief Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said investigators are leaving no stone unturned.</p><p>He added that authorities are looking into whether Cabral was pushed by external factors or acted on her own.</p>

<p>The death of former Public Works Undersecretary Catalina Cabral will not stop the government’s investigation into alleged corruption in flood control projects, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Friday.</p>

The death of former Public Works Undersecretary Catalina Cabral will not stop the government’s investigation into alleged corruption in flood control projects, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Friday.

Remulla: Cabral's death will not stop probe into flood control corruption

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Remulla: Cabral's death will not stop probe into flood control corruption

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 19, 2025 01:29 PM PHT

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Updated Dec 19, 2025 05:55 PM PHT

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