The sudden passing of former DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral has taken a digital turn as a controversial photo begins to circulate online. High-profile lawyer Atty. Jesus Falcis recently shared a selfie allegedly featuring the late official and her driver, captured shortly before her body was discovered in Tuba, Benguet.
The Unverified Photo Evidence
Atty. Falcis posted the image on social media with a cautious disclaimer, noting that it was sent to him by a “tweety bird” and remains unverified. The photo allegedly shows Cabral and her driver at Kennon Road, sparking intense discussion regarding the timeline of events leading to the tragedy.
In his post, Falcis emphasized the need for verification:
“A tweety bird sent this alleged but unverified photo and selfie of Usec. Maria Cabral and her driver at Kennon Road… Dapat may mga eyewitnesses na nakakita sa kanilang dalawa at ano mang mga kaganapan nung kahapon. Ma-araw pa para makita ng mga witnesses kung ano man ang totoong nangyari kay Cabral between 2/3pm to 6pm…“
Discrepancies in the Timeline
The driver’s testimony states that the former official requested to be dropped off near Camp 4 around 3:00 PM on Thursday. He claims that when he returned at 5:00 PM, she was nowhere to be found. Her body was later recovered from the Bued River at approximately 12:03 AM the following morning, having reportedly fallen from a cliff.
Falcis argues that because the sun was still up during the hours in question, there is a high probability that may-ara gid sang nakakita sa duha kun ini ang matuod (there were definitely people who saw the two of them if this is true).
Family Seeks Privacy
Despite the growing online chatter and the emergence of this photo, the family of the late Usec. Cabral has made a definitive stance on the investigation. They have refused to undergo an autopsy the remains of the official, opting instead for privacy during their time of grief.
As the authorities continue to piece together the final moments of one of the DPWH’s most prominent former figures, the public remains divided between respecting the family’s wishes and seeking answers to the many questions left behind.