Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano revealed that former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Catalina Cabral had already spoken with at least five Ombudsman prosecutors before her death. “It was just a matter of time before we were able to file those cases,” Clavano said. “We were able to speak with her so that we could see what information she also had,” he added. In the same press briefing, Clavano dismissed claims that Cabral’s death was a result of a slow-paced investigation and prosecution of those allegedly involved in the misuse of flood control funds. “I beg to differ from the assumption that the investigation is slow. But a lot has already happened from the start of this investigation,” Clavano said, noting that two cases have already been filed within two months. These include malversation and graft charges against former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and 16 others before the Sandiganbayan over a P289-million substandard road dike project in Oriental Mindoro, as well as similar charges against contractor Sarah Discaya and others before the Digos City Regional Trial Court over a P96.5-million alleged ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental. “We first picked the low-hanging fruits. To preserve the integrity of our investigation, including our leads, I cannot give names or specifics, but the people she spoke with there were investigators from different fact-finding bodies assigned to the different cases,” Clavano said. “There were many of them. We’d rather do that than wait for the big cases and nothing gets filed right away,” Clavano said, adding that investigations into other allegations are ongoing. Clavano said building cases against those who allegedly operate behind the scenes takes time due to the nature of the evidence involved. “Apart from documents, we are looking for CCTV footage, screenshots of messages, and call logs because the proponents hide their tracks,” he said. Authorities said she was found unconscious and unresponsive some 20 to 30 meters below a highway, hours after she reportedly asked her driver to leave her at a portion of Kennon Road. Clavano said Cabral’s long career in government, where she rose through the ranks, gave her extensive knowledge of internal processes, making her role significant in the alleged flood control fund irregularities. “The system was with her because she was a very high-ranking DPWH official. Those are the allegations against her,” Clavano said, referring to the National Expenditure Program. Senator Panfilo Lacson had earlier alleged that Cabral called then Senate President Tito Sotto to ask him to recommend budget insertions while the DPWH was still preparing its proposed budget. According to Clavano, Cabral’s alleged communication with Sotto prior to the submission of the budget to Congress already links her to the flood control fund controversy. “That call is already indicative of the system that she was a part of,” he said. When asked whether prosecutors had already established criminal liability on Cabral’s part, Clavano replied, “Definitely. I believe there were at least five prosecutors that she was talking to, asking her about different cases where she was involved,” he added. Benguet police earlier confirmed Cabral’s death after an alleged fall. “This investigation is moving as fast as we can, and we are confident that when we do file cases, they will be strong cases.” She really had a hand in it. A lot of the cases we are dealing with now, she really had a hand in it because she was the one who inserted, she was the one who put it in the NEP. We are still doing our best to make things move even faster.
