Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said on Friday that former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, through her lawyer, had earlier requested a meeting with him and two members of his legislative staff to discuss how she could proceed with a possible testimony before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

Lacson, who chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigating alleged irregularities in flood control projects, described Cabral’s death as “unfortunate and tragic,” saying she could have played a key role in exposing alleged corruption in the agency’s infrastructure programs.

He said Cabral’s cooperation could have helped shed light on anomalies not only in flood control initiatives but also across the DPWH’s broader infrastructure portfolio.

“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,” Lacson said.

He added that he hopes Cabral may have left behind notes or files that could still be useful to investigators.

The meeting took place shortly after former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo mentioned Cabral in his sworn testimony.

“At the time, I had the impression that she was showing some signs of cooperating with our investigation, but with a lot of pressure which we could not explain,” Lacson said.

Lacson noted that his confidence in Cabral’s potential cooperation was reinforced by her lawyer’s assurance, citing her trust in the committee’s process.

“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.

Cabral previously served as DPWH undersecretary for planning, a role that involved preparing project lists for legislators and other officials.

“That being said, I hope she left some notes or files that may have evidentiary value worth pursuing in the ongoing investigations,” Lacson said. “Finally, may she rest in peace.”

The Senate inquiry into alleged corruption in DPWH flood control and infrastructure projects is ongoing.