The family of former Department of Public Works and Highways undersecretary Maria Catalina “Cathy” Cabral has refused an autopsy, maintaining that her death was accidental as authorities continue to process the release of her remains.
In an interview with GMA News Online, Cabral’s husband, Engr. Cesar Cabral, said the family has already signed a waiver but will not consent to an autopsy, even as they are asked to comply with multiple requirements before his wife’s body can be released.
“Bakit ipapa-autopsy pa? Nakita naman yung sarili niya na ano, hihiwain mo pa? Kasi nakakita na ko ng ina-autopsy, talagang binubuksan ng buo tapos pinapabayaan na lang, iniiwan na lang nung mga nag autopsy. Ikaw ba, namatay ka na gusto mo pang anuhin? Gusto mo makita pa na, naghirap na nga yung tao, tapos hihiwain mo pa? Wala naman silang nakitang ano foul play,” he said, referring to earlier statements from Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla that the injuries were consistent with blunt force trauma.
Cesar Cabral said he personally identified his wife’s body, a recognition also confirmed by their child, which he said prompted the family to sign the waiver. “Oo, kilala ng anak ko kaya nagbigay kami ng waiver,” he said.
Despite this, he said they are still waiting for a physician to sign the death certificate and expressed frustration over calls for DNA testing to confirm identity. “Bakit pinapahirap ang proseso?” he asked. “Eh kami na ng anak ko, ako na mismo nagsasabi na asawa ko yan, nanay nila yan. Ano pa ang gusto nilang i-prove? Maghanap sila ng ibang tao?”
Cesar Cabral reiterated his belief that the incident was an accident, saying his wife had gone to Baguio to rest and clear her mind amid public controversy surrounding flood control projects—an issue he said was never discussed inside their home. “Aksidente ’yun,” he said, adding that he has yet to see his wife’s personal belongings despite reports that these had already been turned over to the family. “Aasikasuhin pa ba namin yung gamit? Siyempre unang aasikasuhin namin tao,” he said.
Separately, the family’s legal counsel, Atty. Mae Divinagracia, issued a statement online on Friday through Rep. Leandro Leviste, appealing for restraint and empathy toward the Cabral family.
“At this time, we respectfully urge everyone to refrain from actions, speculations or commentary that may compound the family’s grief,” she said.
Divinagracia argued that requests to surrender Cabral’s gadgets and undergo DNA testing were “unwarranted,” noting that no complaint has been filed against her. “DNA testing is likewise unwarranted, given that her family has already positively identified her remains. Claims and insinuations that she and her family faked her death are not only insensitive and inappropriate, they are also utterly reckless and baseless,” she said.
The lawyer also disputed allegations linking Cabral to anomalous flood control projects, describing her as a public servant for four decades whose integrity “guided her until the very end.” She criticized accusations made by former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, saying his claims remain unsupported. “It is unfortunate that in her final days, the reputation she had painstakingly protected was sullied by the accusations of former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, who advanced these claims at a time when he himself stood to benefit from shifting blame and deflecting responsibility. Suffice it to state, his testimony, which is the lone evidence linking her to the purported criminal conspiracy, remains entirely uncorroborated,” she said.
Divinagracia also said Cabral’s absence from the Dec. 15 ICI hearing was due to lack of notice. “She did not receive any official communication relating thereto,” she said, adding that Cabral’s name was being repeatedly invoked despite no finding of fault, which she described as a public shaming campaign driven by political interests.
