Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday said that the gadgets of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral can help determine if there were threats against her life prior to her death.

In a press briefing in Quezon City, Remulla identified the critical role of the gadgets and other physical evidence in tracing the days leading to the unfortunate passing of Cabral in a ravine along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet.

He said that these pieces of evidence can aid in identifying if there were imminent threats against her life days leading up to her suicide.

“What we have to determine is number one, if there were threats to her life; number two, if there were any conversations prior to the event; number three, if there were still transactions pending; and number four, who was she conversing with the week before the event,” Remulla explained.

Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief PLtGen Jose Melencion Nartatez, Jr. underscored that the said gadgets can ascertain what compelled the former DPWH undersecretary to take her own life.

Following the issuance of subpoena duces tecum by the Office of the Ombudsman against all computer and electronic devices issued to Cabral, the DPWH released a statement saying the evidence will be turned over to authorities.

Meanwhile, Remulla said Cabral’s location of her suicide is connected to a corruption case that might implicate her. “Kasi ‘yung rock-netting is only P325.00 per square meter and they sold it to the government for P1,400.00 per square meter.”

He likewise dispelled rumors that the late undersecretary was in Baguio to allegedly meet with a contractor. “Lahat ng CCTV ay umakyat siya, kumain then bumaba na kaagad. Wala kaming nakitang kinausap na iba.”

He confirmed that Cabral’s driver, Ricardo Muños Hernandez, remains a person of interest in the case.