TUBA, Benguet — A former high-ranking official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was found unconscious at the bottom of a slope along Kennon Road on Thursday evening, 18 December.

The victim was identified as Maria Catalina E. Cabral, a resigned DPWH Undersecretary and resident of Quezon City. According to police reports from the Benguet Provincial Police Office (PPO), the incident was reported by her driver, Ricardo Munos Hernandez, after he failed to locate her for several hours. 

Investigation records show that the pair were traveling toward La Union at approximately 3:00 PM when Cabral requested to stop at Maramal, Camp 5. She instructed the driver to leave her at the location. Hernandez proceeded to a nearby gasoline station and returned at 5:00 PM, but Cabral was nowhere to be found.

After checking a hotel in Baguio City and returning to the site to search again, the driver reported the disappearance to the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) at 7:00 PM.

Officers from BCPO Station 8 conducted a search of the area and discovered the victim at approximately 8:00 PM. She was found lying near the Bued River, roughly 20 to 30 meters below the highway. Responding officers stated she was unconscious and unresponsive at the scene.

Personnel from the Tuba Municipal Police Station, along with the Tuba Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO)and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) were called to the site to conduct retrieval operations. Authorities have coordinated with the Benguet Provincial Forensic Unit for Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO) assistance to determine the circumstances surrounding the fall.