Sec. Jonvic Remulla confirms viral selfie of driver and late Usec Cabral: “It is authentic”

• DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla has officially confirmed that the "selfie" circulating online, featuring the driver and the late Usec. Catalina Cabral, is authentic and was taken shortly before the tragedy
• The image captures a seemingly calm moment with Cabral sitting near the edge of a ravine in Tuba, Benguet—the same area where she would later be found unresponsive
• Secretary Remulla clarified that while the driver is currently considered a "person of interest" due to being the last person with her, the photo helps establish a timeline of her final hours
• The confirmation comes amidst Remulla’s criticism of local police for "lapses" in handling the scene, specifically the premature turnover of the victim's mobile phone to her family

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla has confirmed the legitimacy of a viral "selfie" that has been haunting social media feeds.

The photograph in question shows Cabral’s driver, Ricardo Hernandez, taking a selfie while the former official is seen in the background, sitting quietly on the edge of a steep embankment along Kennon Road.

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For days, netizens debated the authenticity of the image, with many questioning if it was a morbid fabrication or a genuine glimpse into her final moments.

"The photo is authentic," Secretary Remulla stated during a press briefing. He explained that the image was indeed captured on the afternoon of December 18, during the window of time when Cabral reportedly asked her driver to leave her alone to "check the surroundings" of the Bued River ravine.

While the photo appears to show a peaceful, if somber, moment, its existence has added a layer of complexity to the case.

Remulla noted that the driver is currently being treated as a "person of interest"—a standard investigative status for the last person to see a victim alive.

The Secretary emphasized that the photo helps investigators reconstruct the timeline, but it also highlights the "procedural lapses" committed by the initial responding officers.

Remulla expressed frustration that Cabral’s mobile phone and other personal effects were turned over to her family before a full digital forensic exam could be conducted.

"It was a crime scene," Remulla remarked, stressing that in high-profile cases involving public officials, every piece of evidence—including the phone that captured or stored such photos—must be meticulously preserved by the state first.

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As the nation waits for the results of a pending DNA test and a potential autopsy, this validated photograph serves as a poignant and chilling reminder of how quickly a quiet moment of reflection can turn into a national tragedy.

For the family, the photo is a painful memory; for the law, it is a silent witness that Secretary Remulla promises will be used to ensure that the truth behind Catalina Cabral’s final hours is fully brought to light.

In related news, SILG Remulla confirmed that a post-mortem examination determined Ma. Catalina “Cathy” Cabral died from severe blunt force trauma, consistent with a high-altitude fall. Forensic experts noted a lack of defensive wounds, gunshot injuries, or signs of a physical altercation, suggesting that no struggle occurred prior to her descent into the ravine. A review of available surveillance footage indicates that Cabral was likely by herself in the period leading up to the incident, reinforcing the theory of a solo accident. Despite the initial forensic data, investigators are refusing to close the case, keeping all possibilities open while they verify the timeline provided by those closest to the scene.

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Earlier, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has officially designated Cabral’s personal driver as a "person of interest" to facilitate a more rigorous inquiry into the sequence of events. Authorities have subjected the driver to a series of intensive interviews, lasting up to 36 hours, to reconcile his testimony with the physical evidence found at the Tuba, Benguet site. Detectives are particularly focused on why a high-profile official was reportedly left unattended in a secluded area without access to her handbag or cellular phone. Beyond the physical mechanics of the fall, the probe is looking into whether the late official was under significant external duress or if her actions were entirely self-directed.

Source: KAMI.com.gh