DPWH yields Cabral files, computer to Ombudsman

CRUCIAL HANDOVER The Office of the Ombudsman formally receives a CPU and various documents from the office of the late Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral on Tuesday. The antigraft agency wanted to secure Cabral’s mobile phone and other gadgets as early as the night she was reported to have fallen to her death last week. —DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS

The computer used by the late former Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral and the files she kept in her office have been turned over to the Office of the Ombudsman, an action made urgent by her sudden death last week.

The antigraft agency moved to secure sensitive documents from Cabral, who was a key figure first in the congressional inquiries and later in the criminal investigation into anomalous public works projects.

She became a focus of the probe for being privy to the “requests” coming from lawmakers in the preparation of the yearly budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The Senate and House inquiries mainly uncovered a scheme that allegedly bred corruption through kickbacks, overpricing and rigged public bidding.

The turnover was announced on Tuesday. Earlier, the Office of the Ombudsman called on authorities to secure Cabral’s mobile phone and other gadgets on the night of Dec. 18, immediately after she was reported to have fallen into a roadside ravine in Tuba, Benguet province, and confirmed dead hours later.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the computer and files were handed over by DPWH officials led by Undersecretaries Nicasio Conti (planning service, private-public partnership), Arthur Bisnar (regional operations in Luzon), Ricardo Bernabe III (information management service, stakeholders relations service and legislative liaison office), and Charles Calima Jr. (special concerns), in compliance with the subpoena issued by the antigraft body.

“The CPU (central processing unit of a computer) and files of Usec. Cabral have been sealed and delivered to the custody of the Office of the Ombudsman,” Clavano said in a statement. “It will remain sealed until we are able to do a digital forensic test.”

The DPWH said among the documents surrendered were Cabral’s files in the past 10 years, including “other requests for consideration in the programming of NEP (National Expenditure Program).”

Cabral, who had served the agency for 30 years, resigned as undersecretary for planning and public-private partnership (PPP) of the DPWH on Sept. 14 amid pressure from the congressional inquiries.

A fellow former DPWH undersecretary, Roberto Bernardo, testified and executed sworn statements tagging Cabral as a “key gatekeeper” in the budgeting process, including for flood control projects.

At the time of her death, Cabral herself was not yet a respondent in any formal complaint related to the flood control mess.

House call

Several lawmakers and civil society groups have expressed concerns that Cabral’s mysterious death would eventually derail the investigation or weaken the prosecution of accountable officials, fearing that the testimony she could have made would die with her.

Meanwhile, members of the House minority bloc called on the committees on good government and on public works to still investigate Cabral’s death.

This was despite statements made on Monday by acting Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla that the evidence so far had suggested that Cabral died of suicide.

In a House resolution filed on Monday, lawmakers led by Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice and Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima said the “suspicious timing and nature of the incident have led to an intense public demand for a deeper inquiry particularly in light of her reported familiarity with key government officials, contractors, and proponents linked to questionable DPWH projects.”

“We are deeply concerned that this case, if mishandled, could lead to the silencing of other witnesses or whistleblowers,” Erice said in a press briefing. “It’s also a call to action to immediately secure testimonies, place witnesses under protection, and prevent any further loss of life or truth.”

The resolution sought a review of the “apparent inaction or insufficient action” by government bodies to obtain information and evidence from Cabral, and their failure to extend her a degree of protection befitting her extensive knowledge of budget matters relating to the questionable projects. —WITH REPORTS FROM KRIXIA SUBINGSUBING, JOHN ERIC MENDOZA AND INQUIRER RESEARCH