DPWH turns over Cabral’s computer, files to Ombudsman

[Updated Dec. 23, 2025, 4:26 p.m.]

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Tuesday turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman the computer storage device and documents from the office of the late former Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.

This came after the Ombudsman on Monday released a subpoena duces tecum, directing the DPWH to produce all the electronic gadgets issued to Cabral so that they could check whether the data inside these devices had been tampered with or altered.

READ: Ombudsman directs DPWH to produce all gadgets issued to Cabral

According to the DPWH, the documents it surrendered were the former undersecretary’s files from the past 10 years including “other requests for consideration in the programming of NEP (National Expenditure Program).”

DPWH undersecretaries Nicasio Conti, Arthur Bisnar, Ricardo Bernabe III and Charles Calima Jr. led the turnover of Cabral’s computer and documents.

The agency said it “will cooperate with the authorities and relevant agencies handling the investigation.”

READ: DILG Chief, PNP: Cabral’s death suggests suicide

On December 18, Cabral died after her fall into a deep ravine at Purok Maramal, Sitio Camp 5 in Barangay Camp 4 in Tuba, Benguet.

While the investigation is ongoing, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla recently said that the evidence gathered by police investigators so far leads to the possibility that Cabral died by suicide.

Cabral was a key figure in the government’s investigation of the flood control scandal across the country. /das /mr