Police in the Cordillera region have officially confirmed that the remains recovered in Tuba, Benguet belong to Catalina Cabral, a former senior official of the Department of Public Works and Highways, following the completion of an autopsy conducted on Saturday, December 20.
According to Cordillera police, forensic examination established Cabral’s identity after post-mortem procedures were finalized. The confirmation came days after she was discovered unconscious in a ravine area in Tuba and later pronounced dead at a medical facility.
Cabral previously served as an undersecretary at the DPWH and had recently been linked to a broader government review of flood control projects, which has been the subject of legislative and executive scrutiny. Authorities earlier stated that her passing would not halt ongoing investigations related to the program, as documentation and other sources remain under review.
Law enforcement officials said the autopsy findings allowed them to formally close the identification process, enabling coordination with Cabral’s family and relevant agencies for procedural requirements. Police added that the investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death remains active, with several aspects of the timeline still being examined by authorities.
