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December 21, 2025 | 12:00am
Photo provided by the Benguet police shows officers inspecting the spot where former DPWH undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral (top inset) fell to her death in Sitio Marammal, Barangay Camp 4, Tuba, Benguet. Lower inset shows emergency responders recovering the remains of Cabral from the 30-meter ravine.
STAR / File
MANILA, Philippines — The police chief of the Tuba Municipal Police Station in Benguet has been relieved from his post over alleged investigation lapses into the death of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, the Philippine National Police confirmed yesterday.
PNP public information office chief Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said Maj. Peter Camsol was relieved as Tuba police chief based on findings by the Police Regional Office-Cordillera Administrative Region.
The regional police office, Tuaño said, found the Tuba police “remiss in securing pieces of evidence” in the conduct of the investigation.
Meanwhile, Benguet police director Col. Lambert Suerte was retained in his post after he was able to coordinate with and secure the consent of Cabral’s family for an autopsy, Tuaño added.
Police said Cabral’s family were initially against allowing an autopsy after her body was found in a ravine in Tuba, Benguet on Dec. 18.
Search warrant
At the same time, a search warrant was issued yesterday afternoon against Ion Hotel in Baguio City, after earlier refusing authorities access to CCTV footages and other documents related to Cabral and her driver, who allegedly checked in midday Thursday, hours before she was found dead.
The warrant, signed by Benguet Regional Trial Court Branch 6 Executive Judge Michael V. Francisco, allowed police and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) operatives to sift through hotel records in hopes of finding more information on Cabral’s death.
The hotel, via its legal counsel Perlita Rondez, previously said it could not confirm or deny any information related to guest records, including whether the individual involved had checked in or stayed at the hotel.
The hotel cited strict compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 as the reason for withholding such details. It also emphasized that the law prohibits the disclosure of personal information without proper legal authority.
However, Ion Hotel also stated that it is fully cooperating with the appropriate authorities and will provide any information that may be lawfully required through proper legal channels.
Dashcam footage
To aid its investigation into Cabral’s death, the NBI appealed to motorists who passed through Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet on Dec. 18 to come forward with dashcam footage.
In a public advisory, the NBI said it is seeking recordings taken between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., particularly along Sitio Maramal, Camp 5, Barangay 4.
The bureau said the request is part of its efforts to gather “information vital to the investigation” and stressed that any footage or details provided will be treated with strict confidentiality and used solely for lawful investigative purposes.
Motorists willing to assist were told to coordinate with the NBI through cellphone number 0908-978-0135 or through email at [email protected].
