Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday said former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral jumped to her death at the site of an allegedly overpriced rock netting project in Benguet.

In a press conference, Remulla said Cabral was found dead after an apparent fall from a cliff along Kennon Road, where the controversial project is located.

Remulla suggested that Cabral’s death followed a pattern seen in psychological suicide cases, where individuals return to places associated with intense personal torment.

“In this (Cabral) case, I think we see a pattern of torment for her because of the rock netting cases in Benguet which will, I think, down the road will implicate her and the congressman and the contractors who implemented the project,” Remulla said.

When asked whether the site was considered a ghost project, Remulla clarified that it was completed but questionable.

“Hindi siya ghost [project]—severely overpriced kasi rock netting is only P325 per square meter, and they sold it to the government for P1,400 per square meter,” he said.

Remulla also asked Acting Philippine National Police Chief Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. to confirm items recovered from Cabral’s hotel room in Baguio City prior to her death.

“If your talking about the knife, or some other items recovered, yung knife gor self protection or panggamit niya lang (which is) inside a bag, while the medications, we secure that and put on study,” Nartatez said.

The items were recovered from the ION Hotel in Baguio City, where Cabral reportedly stayed before heading to the Kennon Road project site.

Authorities said investigations remain ongoing.