Cardo Hernandez, Former DPWH Usec. Maria Catalina Cabral’s Driver, Speaks on Boss’ Death
Cabral’s driver Cardo Hernandez recounted the events prior to the death of the former undersecretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The death of former Usec. Maria Catalina Cabral who was found dead due to an alleged fall from a cliff in Benguet shocked countless people today. Cabral was one of the former officials of the DPWH who were tagged in the controversial issue about the flood control projects in the country.
Cabral resigned from her post last September amid the flood control investigation in the country. Cabral’s driver, Cardo Hernandez, was one of the last people who has seen the former DPWH Undersecretary prior to her death.
According to Hernandez, Cabral told him that they will be travelling from Manila to Baguio City to relax. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, he claimed that they were already at the Kennon Road early in the morning of Thursday and spent some time to release stress.
However, according to Cabral’s driver, they were allegedly told by the police authorities to move as they stopped in an accident-prone area. He claimed that they headed straight to Baguio, ate, and checked in to a hotel.
“Tapos po pinaalis po kami ng mga pulis kasi bawal po dito, accident [prone] po yung lugar so dumiretso na po kami ng Baguio, kumain. Tapos check-in [sa hotel], tapos inaya niya po ulit niya ako pabalik dito,” Hernandez said.
Based on the report, Cardo Hernandez further claimed that former DPWH Usec. Maria Catalina Cabral allegedly told him that they will return to Kennon Road at around 2:30 p.m. and she asked him to leave him there. He claimed that he returned after an hour but she was no longer there.
“Bago ko naman iwan, nakaupo po siya dun sa may bato. Sabi niya balikan ko na lang siya. Pagbalik ko siguro mga 1 hour, nakita ko binalikan ko, wala na po dito sa pwesto niya. Ngayon sinilip ko yung baba hindi ko naman po makita kasi natatakot din ako baka mahulog ako. So nag-ikot po ako, nagtanong po ako sa mga tao dito kung walang nakitang dumaang babae wala naman daw po,” Cabral’s driver said.
Cardo Hernandez claimed that he allegedly returned to the hotel but did not find the former DPWH Usec. there so he reported to the police. At around 7:00 p.m., Cabral was found unconscious and unresponsive at the side of the Bued River.
Recently, the DPWH released a statement on the death of former DPWH Usec. Maria Catalina Cabral.