BENGUET — A steep cliff down the side of Kennon Road became the final backdrop for a tragedy that intertwined corruption, public accountability and human frailty.

On 19 December, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Catalina Cabral supposedly jumped to her death from the cliff that is near the site of a controversial rock netting project, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Tuesday.

The project, intended to protect roads from landslides, had drawn scrutiny for its staggering price. While rock netting typically costs P325 per square meter, the government paid P1,400 per square meter for this particular project, according to Remulla.

“This was not a ghost project, but it was severely overpriced,” he said, suggesting the anomalously huge cost discrepancy surrounding the site may have weighed heavily on Cabral.

Remulla drew a parallel to the psychology of suicide, noting that people often go to the places tied to their greatest stress or torment.

“In cases like this, we often see people drawn to the places where they were most tormented. For Cabral, the rock netting case in Benguet may have represented that torment,” he said, hinting at the pressure she faced amid the looming investigations that could implicate lawmakers and contractors tied to the project.

Cabral had checked in at a Baguio hotel before the incident. Police recovered a knife, believed to be for self-protection, and medications from her room.

Acting PNP Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez said these items are being studied.

The authorities have so far ruled out the involvement of a third party in Cabral’s death. While her driver remains a person of interest, investigators found no conclusive evidence linking him to the incident.

Her remains were transported on the night of her death to Metro Manila, where biometric examinations — including fingerprints and photographs — confirmed her identity.

DNA results are still pending, but authorities said a physical examination showed the body was Cabral’s “with a high degree of certainty,” despite minor discrepancies possibly due to prior cosmetic procedures.

Brighter light on probes

Her death has cast a brighter spotlight on the ongoing investigations into alleged corruption within the DPWH.

Police, in coordination with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure and the Office of the Ombudsman, are set to examine all of Cabral’s files, computers, and other records.

Nartatez said the files are expected to include information on the parties involved in DPWH budget insertions, some details of which Cabral had supposedly shared with Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste before her death.

“We will ensure that all findings are thoroughly examined and acted upon,” Nartatez said. “All recommendations — from internal and external agencies — will be considered to penalize those involved in corruption and to recover the public funds.”

Experts said Cabral’s death underscored the psychological pressures faced by officials involved in questionable high-stakes, high-budget projects. The fear of exposure, public scrutiny, and personal consequences can create immense mental strain —sometimes with tragic outcomes.

Remulla emphasized that while the investigation must be thorough and transparent, a sensitivity to the human tragedy is paramount.

“The public deserves assurance that law enforcement is carried out professionally, and that any breach of integrity will be addressed decisively,” he said.

The case also raises questions about governance and accountability in infrastructure projects.

The Kennon Road rock netting project, while completed, is a stark example of cost inflation and questionable procurement practices involving both public funds and the officials overseeing them.

For now, the cliff along Kennon Road stands as a silent witness to the personal cost of public service under scrutiny.

Cabral’s death is a reminder that behind the headlines of overpriced projects and corruption allegations are real human lives, often under unbearable stress.

As authorities continue the forensic investigation and audit of her files, the nation watches, grappling with questions of accountability, transparency, and the human toll behind the price tags of public infrastructure.