Quezon city: The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday announced that the death of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral was likely due to injuries sustained from sliding and falling into a ravine in Benguet province.

According to Philippines News Agency, Cabral was discovered dead at the bottom of a ravine near a stop along Kennon Road in Tuba on the evening of December 18. During a press conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City, Col. Pierre Paul Carpio, officer-in-charge of the PNP Forensic Group, stated that a 3D scan of the crime scene indicated Cabral's fall was from a height of 16.9 meters, landing just 0.2 meters from the base of the ravine.

Carpio explained that their medico-legal findings confirmed the consistency in the age of Cabral's injuries. The results of the autopsy, field-scanning, and toxicology examination, along with the analysis of her position during the fall, collectively indicated a first fall injury. This evidence led to the conclusion that Cabral was not pushed but rather slid to her death.

Carpio addressed the speculations about Cabral being pushed, noting that her body was found between 0.2 meters and 0.8 meters from the base of the ravine. He pointed out that if Cabral had been pushed, her body would likely have been found farther away. He highlighted the scratches on her hand and back, suggesting a high probability that she slipped.

Additionally, a PNP toxicology report indicated that Cabral's body tested positive for an antidepressant drug. Despite being linked to alleged irregularities in flood control and infrastructure projects, Cabral had denied any involvement in receiving kickbacks. Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla earlier stated that autopsy results showed Cabral died from "blunt traumatic injury consistent with a fall," ruling out signs of foul play.