(UPDATE) AUTHORITIES said Saturday that former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral died from blunt force trauma consistent with a fall, with no evidence of foul play, following an official autopsy and forensic investigation. Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the post-mortem examination showed no gunshot wounds, stab wounds, or ligature marks. “Death was caused by blunt force trauma,” Remulla said in an interview, adding that the injuries were consistent with a fall into a ravine along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet. Cabral was reported missing on Dec. 18 after asking to be dropped off along Kennon Road while traveling to La Union. Her driver, Ricardio Hernandez, later told investigators that she asked to be left near Sitio Maramal, Camp 5, Barangay 4, around 3  p.m. Hernandez said he briefly went to a nearby gas station and returned around 5 p.m., but Cabral was no longer at the spot. After checking a hotel in Baguio City where she may have stayed and failing to locate her, he reported her disappearance to police at about 7 p.m. Later that evening, authorities discovered Cabral unconscious and unresponsive about 20–30 meters below Kennon Road in a ravine near the Bued River. She was pronounced dead shortly after midnight. Hernandez has been taken into police custody as a person of interest (POI) while investigators review inconsistencies in the timeline, including why Cabral was left alone in a remote area and the delay in reporting her missing. Authorities stressed that being a person of interest does not automatically make Hernandez a suspect, and further questioning and evidence gathering will determine his involvement, if any. The autopsy was conducted early Saturday at the Cordillera Serenity Memorial in Irisan, Baguio City, after Cabral’s family gave consent. The examination, which lasted from 12:02 a.m. to 3:45 a.m., was attended by her husband, Cesar Cabral, and three legal representatives. Fingerprint comparisons confirmed Cabral’s identity, with DNA results still pending. Remulla said her husband is expected to turn over personal belongings for further investigation. “The official copy of the DNA report will be out soon. Fingerprint comparison matches. The autopsy and crime scene investigation show no foul play,” Remulla said. Cabral’s family, through legal counsel Mae Divinagracia of Co & Divinagracia Law Offices, urged the public to respect their privacy and refrain from speculation regarding her death. The family also rejected suggestions that Cabral staged her death, describing such claims as “insensitive, inappropriate, utterly reckless and baseless.” “Her family is confronting an overwhelming loss under painful and sensitive circumstances, and they ask for the time, space, and privacy to grieve and mourn in peace,” the statement read. The family also requested the prompt release of her remains for private funeral arrangements. Divinagracia highlighted Cabral’s decades-long public service and participation in multiple investigations related to alleged flood control project anomalies, noting that she had voluntarily engaged with the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, the House of Representatives Infrastructure Committee, and the Office of the Ombudsman. While the autopsy confirmed that Cabral’s death was consistent with a fall, authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. Authorities have indicated that Cabral’s personal devices, particularly her phone, are considered crucial for reconstructing her final movements and communications. The phone could provide information on her itinerary, possible messages, or any unusual interactions prior to the fall. However, the devices remain in the custody of Cabral’s family, who said calls to seize her personal effects, including her phone, were unwarranted, noting that no legal complaints had been filed against her. They said that any steps taken following her death should respect personal boundaries and sensitivity, warning against actions or speculations that may further distress the family. Authorities plan to issue subpoenas to secure the devices for forensic analysis, balancing investigative needs with the family’s request for sensitivity. Several police officers were relieved from their posts following lapses in responding to the incident, including delays in securing Cabral’s personal devices. Benguet Police Provincial Director Col. Lambert Suerte, Tuba Municipal Police chief Maj. Peter Camsol, and Tublay Municipal Police chief Maj. Peter Fangon were among those relieved. Authorities plan to issue subpoenas to obtain Cabral’s personal phones for forensic analysis. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has appealed to motorists who passed Kennon Road on Dec. 18 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., particularly near Sitio Maramal, Camp 5, Barangay 4, to provide any dashcam footage that may help reconstruct the events. The NBI said all submissions would be treated confidentially and used solely for investigative purposes. Cabral served as DPWH undersecretary for Planning and Public-Private Partnership Service. She was the first female president of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers and a known advocate for sustainable infrastructure development. She had resigned from the DPWH following controversies related to flood control projects. Authorities emphasize that while the autopsy clarified the cause of death, additional inquiries — including forensic examination of personal devices, driver statements, and dashcam footage — remain crucial to reconstructing the full sequence of events that led to Cabral’s fall. Sen. Rodante Marcoleta said the recent death of Cabral has raised more questions than answers and could have implications for the ongoing investigation into the alleged flood control fund irregularities. Speaking on the Net 25 public affairs program “Sa Ganang Mamamayan” on Dec. 19, Marcoleta expressed sympathy for Cabral’s family while acknowledging growing public concern over the timing and circumstances surrounding the incident. “We respect and honor what happened to Usec. Cabral and her family is mourning,” Marcoleta said in Filipino. “But many of our countrymen now have questions in their minds.” Marcoleta noted that Cabral previously served as DPWH undersecretary for planning, a position he described as “very sensitive” and central to the implementation of government infrastructure projects, particularly flood control initiatives that have come under scrutiny in recent months. According to the senator, the Office of the Undersecretary for Planning is essential for identifying, approving and coordinating projects, including determining project locations, funding sources, and proponents. “That office knows where the projects are, how they are proposed, how funds are raised and distributed,” he said. “If anyone knows the sensitive details, especially about flood control projects, it would be that office.” Marcoleta recalled that during the early stages of the Senate’s inquiry into alleged irregularities in flood control spending, questions frequently centered on Cabral’s office. He said this was due to its access to technical data and documentation related to project coordinates and planning approvals. He also pointed out that Cabral resigned from her post at the height of public questioning over flood control projects. Since then, Marcoleta noted, the Senate inquiry has seen limited progress, prompting speculation and concern among observers. “Many people are wondering why things seem to slow down,” he said. “He was one of those who knew the most. Then suddenly, it seemed like nothing happened.” The incident has only deepened public suspicion, he added.