The steep slopes of Kennon Road held a grim secret Thursday evening, December 18th. Former DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina E. Cabral was discovered lifeless at the bottom of a ravine near Camp 5 in Tuba, Benguet, a fall that plunged her into a mystery.
The initial report came from her driver, Ricardo Munos Hernandez, who alerted authorities to her disappearance. He recounted a journey toward La Union, a routine trip interrupted by an unexpected request.
Around 3:00 p.m., Ms. Cabral had asked to be left at Maramal, Camp 5, a quiet spot along the winding road. She instructed Hernandez to proceed to a nearby gasoline station, leaving her momentarily alone with the rugged landscape.
Hours passed. Hernandez returned at approximately 5:00 p.m., expecting to find Ms. Cabral waiting. But she was gone. A growing unease prompted a search, first at the Baguio hotel where they originated, then back to the desolate roadside.
Frantic and unable to locate her, Hernandez finally contacted the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) Station 8 around 7:00 p.m., reporting Ms. Cabral missing. A swift search operation was launched, the urgency escalating with each passing minute.
The search ended with a heartbreaking discovery. Around 8:00 p.m., officers found Ms. Cabral lying unconscious and unresponsive near the Bued River, a harrowing 20 to 30 meters below the highway’s edge.
A coordinated effort involving the Tuba Municipal Police Station, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the Bureau of Fire Protection carefully retrieved her body. She was then transported to a funeral parlor in Baguio City.
Now, the focus has shifted to unraveling the circumstances surrounding her death. The Benguet Provincial Forensic Unit is meticulously examining the scene, searching for clues that will illuminate what happened on that stretch of Kennon Road.
Hernandez, Ms. Cabral’s driver, is currently being questioned by police, a request made by the grieving family as they seek answers and closure in the wake of this tragic event.
