Jamaine Punzalan

Former Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Catalina Cabral attends a Senate hearing on anomalous flood control projects,  September 1, 2025.  Courtesy of the Senate of the Philippines Social Media Unit

Article (news)

PH SENATE

Agatha Gregorio

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><em><strong><span>TRIGGER WARNING:</span></strong><span> This report mentions suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, help is available. You may contact the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) Crisis Hotline at 1553 (landline), or 0917-899-8727 and 0919-057-1553 (mobile).</span></em></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/176639345424720250901-senate-blue-ribbon-usec-catalina-cabral-SSMU.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Catalina Cabral attends a Senate hearing on anomalous flood control projects,  September 1, 2025.  Courtesy of the Senate of the Philippines Social Media Unit</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA -- The Office of the Ombudsman has directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to produce all computer and electronic devices previously issued to former Undersecretary Catalina Cabral.</p><p>In a statement, the Ombudsman said Monday it issued a subpoena duces tecum for the electronic devices previously used by Cabral.</p><p>Upon turnover, the devices will be &quot;subjected to forensic examination by a law enforcement agency to determine whether any data was altered, deleted, or tampered with after the Flood Control Scandal was first made public.&quot;</p><p>&quot;The Office expects prompt and full compliance with the subpoena in the interest of accountability and the integrity of the ongoing investigation,&quot; it added.</p><p>The DPWH said it would comply with the subpoena. </p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17663949396011766394935748.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><p>Cabral, one of the former DPWH executives embroiled in the flood control corruption scandal, <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/18/former-dpwh-usec-cabral-found-unconscious-after-falling-from-benguet-cliff-police-say-2355">was found dead</a> on Thursday night after allegedly falling from a cliff along Kennon Road in Tuba town in Benguet.</p><p>Following news of the former DPWH official’s death, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said they ordered authorities in Benguet to preserve Cabral’s gadgets.</p><p>Clavano later talked about reports of Cabral having a list of proponents and projects involved in alleged insertions, which could be stored in her devices.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/19/cabral-was-at-office-of-the-ombudsman-2-weeks-before-death-clavano-1718">READ: Cabral was at Office of the Ombudsman 2 weeks before death – Clavano</a></div><p>Cabral was believed to be instrumental in an alleged kickback scheme in the flood control scandal in which she also supposedly benefited from because of her crucial position in the agency.</p><p>Cabral, 63, whose public works career spanned more than 40 years, was appointed undersecretary for Planning and Public-Private Partnership in 2014.</p><p>She resigned from the post this year after she was implicated in the infrastructure corruption.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/22/dilg-on-cathy-cabral-s-death-all-signs-point-to-suicide-0937">READ: DILG on Cathy Cabral&#x27;s death: &#x27;All signs point to suicide&#x27;</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>CALL FOR HOUSE PROBE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>A dozen lawmakers filed House Resolution 606 on Monday, which called on the lower chamber to direct the good government and public works committees to investigate Cabral&#x27;s death “in relation to her alleged knowledge of the planning, approval, funding and implementation of certain flood control projects that were reportedly anomalous, substandard or non-existent”.</p><p>“If this is not investigated thoroughly and independently, we send a dangerous message that in this country, those who know too much are disposable and those who steal public funds are untouchable,” Caloocan Second District Rep.  Edgar Erice said.</p><p>“We are not going to look into the criminal liability of the former Usec, the late Usec. Cabral dahil nga po death extinguishes criminal liability. Kaya lang po, maraming teorya ang lumalabas kung ano ang tunay na nangyari sa kaniya,“ added ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima. </p><p>The other lawmaker who filed the resolution included Akbayan party-list Representatives Chel Diokno, Percival Cendaña, and Dadah Kiram Ismula, Zamboanga del Norte 3rd District Rep. Adrian Michael Amatong, Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, Kamanggagawa Rep. Eli San Fernando, Oriental Second District Rep. Alfonso Umali Jr., Albay First District Rep. Krisel Lagman, Muntinlupa Rep. Jaime Fresnedi, and Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste.</p><p>The lawmakers called on the House to include in the probe the alleged “failure” of government investigative and oversight bodies to timely and adequately obtain information from Cabral and “extend protection to her despite her purported material knowledge”.</p><p>“Sa mga nangyaring imbestigasyon lumalabas na malalim ang kaalaman ni former Usec. Cabral tungkol sa mga anomalya sa mga infra at flood control projects. Hindi lang niya alam ang mga kontratista at iba pang mga proponent at konektado sa proyekto, mukhang pati ‘yung mga sinasabi nating mga nasa likod nitong mga anomalya—kaya ‘wag nating hayaan na kasamang mailibing itong kaalaman [niya] sa kanyang libing din,” Diokno said.</p><p>Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said he would also turn over all files and evidence he had regarding the flood control scandal to investigators, including those from Cabral.</p><p>“I have always instructed my staff to consolidate and turn over whatever documents I have, whether from Usec Cabral or any other sources to the ICI, Ombudsman or DOJ, as we have been consistently doing since the time I delivered my 2 privilege speeches all the way to the Senate BRC investigations,&quot; he said in a text message. </p><p>— With a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News</p><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>The Office of the Ombudsman has directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to produce all computer and electronic devices previously issued to former Undersecretary Catalina Cabral.</p>

The Office of the Ombudsman has directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to produce all computer and electronic devices previously issued to former Undersecretary Catalina Cabral.

Ombudsman directs DPWH to produce computers, gadgets issued to Cathy Cabral

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Ombudsman directs DPWH to produce computers, gadgets issued to Cathy Cabral

Agatha Gregorio,

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 22, 2025 04:52 PM PHT

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Updated Dec 22, 2025 05:25 PM PHT

Read More:

Office of the Ombudsman

Catalina Cabral

flood control scandal

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