The death of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral was unfortunate and tragic as she could have greatly helped expose the extent of corruption in the department’s infrastructure program, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday.
Lacson, who also chairs the Blue Ribbon Committee looking into the flood control mess, said he hopes Cabral may have left notes or files that could help in the ongoing investigations.
“It was unfortunate and tragic that former Undersecretary Catalina Cabral would end her life at a time when she could have significantly contributed to blowing wide open the extent of corruption not only in flood control projects but all other anomalies in the infrastructure program of the DPWH,” he said.
In Filipino: Lacson: Pagkamatay ni Dating DPWH Usec Cabral, ‘Unfortunate and Tragic’
Lacson narrated that Cabral through her lawyer met with him and two of his legislative staff upon her initiative, for a preliminary discussion on how she could proceed with her testimony before the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing. This was right after former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo first mentioned her name in his sworn testimony, he said.
At the time, Lacson said he had the impression that Cabral “was showing some signs of cooperating with our investigation but with a lot of pressure which we could not explain.”
“What bolstered my confidence was her lawyer’s statement that she could completely put her trust in me being the chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, with the knowledge that I have never dipped my fingers in any of the lists of projects – ‘pork’, ‘allocables’ or whatever name/s invented that she used to prepare for legislators and other personalities, she being the Usec for Planning,” he said.
“That being said, I hope she left some notes or files that may have evidentiary value worth pursuing in the ongoing investigations,” Lacson added. “Finally, may she rest in peace.”
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Lacson: Pagkamatay ni Dating DPWH Usec Cabral, ‘Unfortunate and Tragic’
Unfortunate and tragic. Ito ang pagkalarawan ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Biyernes sa pagkamatay ni dating Undersecretary ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Maria Catalina Cabral – dahil malaki sana ang maitutulong niya sa pagbubunyag ng lawak ng katiwalian sa mga programang pang-imprastruktura ng ahensya.
Umaasa si Lacson, na chairman din ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee na nagsisiyasat sa mga anomalya sa flood control projects, na baka may naiwan si Cabral na mga tala o dokumento na maaaring makatulong sa nagpapatuloy na imbestigasyon.
“It was unfortunate and tragic that former Undersecretary Catalina Cabral would end her life at a time when she could have significantly contributed to blowing wide open the extent of corruption not only in flood control projects but all other anomalies in the infrastructure program of the DPWH,” ani Lacson.
Ikinuwento ni Lacson na si Cabral, sa pamamagitan ng kanyang abogado, ang kusang lumapit at nakipagpulong sa kanya at sa dalawa niyang legislative staff para sa isang paunang pag-uusap kung paano siya maaaring tumestigo sa pagdinig ng Blue Ribbon Committee. Nangyari ito matapos unang banggitin ni dating DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo ang pangalan ni Cabral sa kanyang sinumpaang salaysay.
Noong panahong iyon, sinabi ni Lacson na may impresyon siyang si Cabral ay nagpapakita ng ilang senyales ng pakikipagtulungan sa aming imbestigasyon ngunit nasa ilalim ng matinding pressure na hindi maipaliwanag.
“What bolstered my confidence was her lawyer’s statement that she could completely put her trust in me being the chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, with the knowledge that I have never dipped my fingers in any of the lists of projects – ‘pork’, ‘allocables’ or whatever name/s invented that she used to prepare for legislators and other personalities, she being the Usec for Planning,” ani Lacson.
“That being said, I hope she left some notes or files that may have evidentiary value worth pursuing in the ongoing investigations,” dagdag ni Lacson. “Finally, may she rest in peace.”
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