(Manila) The Philippine National Police stated on Monday that former Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral is suspected to have died from severe injuries sustained after falling into a ravine, and there is currently no evidence indicating homicide.
Cabral's body was found on the night of December 18 at the bottom of a deep ravine near a stop along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet Province. Colonel Pierre Paul Capio, acting leader of the police forensic team, said at a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City that a 3D site scan showed that the spot where Cabral fell was only about 0.2 meters from the bottom of the ravine, with a drop of 16.9 meters from above.
Capio explained that after comparing forensic, autopsy, scene scanning, and toxicology data, the consistency of the wounds and fall height all showed evidence of “first fall injury”: “The coroner determined the injuries occurred at the same time, matching the toxicology, autopsy, and scene images, indicating severe trauma caused by a fall.”
He also dismissed speculation that she had been pushed into the ravine, pointing out that Cabral's body was found close to the bottom (about 0.2 to 0.8 meters away), and that if she had been pushed by someone, she should have landed farther away. At the same time, he noted abrasions were found on her hands and back, which is more consistent with a scenario of slipping and tumbling.
An earlier toxicology report from the Philippine National Police showed traces of antidepressant drugs in Cabral's body.
Cabral had been implicated in investigations into alleged irregularities in flood control and infrastructure projects, but she had insisted she had not accepted kickbacks. Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Juanito Victor Remulla stated that, according to the autopsy, Cabral died of “blunt force injuries consistent with a fall,” and no suspicious signs of homicide were found.
The incident has drawn public attention, but police investigations so far have found no obvious evidence of homicide. Authorities are continuing to clarify the truth in accordance with procedure.