The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it has shifted its investigation to determining the circumstances surrounding the death of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, following confirmation that the remains found in Benguet were hers.

In a statement on Sunday, PNP chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the probe is now focused on establishing what transpired prior to Cabral’s death, particularly as the case has drawn public attention due to her alleged links to a multi-billion-peso flood control controversy.

“With the confirmation of her death, we were able to clear things up on the speculations of the identity of the remains. The next step is to establish what really happened, and this is now the focus of all our efforts in relation to this case,” Nartatez said.

As part of the investigation, Cabral’s driver is undergoing interrogation, while authorities are conducting additional measures to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to her death.

Nartatez said the PNP is also coordinating with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and other government agencies to identify, preserve, and secure evidence related to the flood control investigation.

He also ordered tighter internal supervision of police units handling the case following lapses that led to the relief of a police official in Tuba, Benguet.

“This is not only to clarify the circumstances of her death but also to support our ongoing probe into the alleged flood control anomalies in the DPWH, so that no evidence is left unchecked,” Nartatez said, adding that police actions are aimed at ensuring a thorough investigation into both Cabral’s death and the related DPWH issues.

While acknowledging the sensitivity of the case for Cabral’s family, the PNP chief said authorities must secure any possible evidence connected to the flood control probe, citing the matter’s strong public interest.

Nartatez reiterated his call for the public to refrain from speculation and to allow investigators to complete their work before drawing conclusions.