The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee issued a subpoena against resigned Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral—one of those implicated in the anomalous flood control projects.

Senator Rodante Marcoleta, former chairman of the committee, moved to issue a subpoena against Cabral, which was seconded by Senator Erwin Tulfo.

Lacson approved the motion after no senator objected.

Marcoleta said Cabral’s resignation is not an excuse for her not to be held accountable and attend the Senate hearing.

“Kahit na mag-resign po siya (even if she resigned), it will not matter to us. There are personal questions that we need to ask,” Marcoleta said, which was agreed to by new panel chairman, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon said that he accepted the courtesy resignation of Carbal, noting that Cabral submitted her resignation two nights ago.

“I think she wrote a letter, she informed me by a message late last night that she had written the committee to inform the committee of the acceptance of her courtesy resignation and thus requested not to attend [the hearing],” the DPWH chief said.

“But of course even if she’s now just a private citizen and no longer part of the DPWH, I‘m sure if the committee will require her to attend, she still must attend but now no longer as an official of DPWH but as a private citizen,” he added.

Regardless of Cabral’s resignation, Dizon committed that the DPWH will still continue its internal investigation into the questionable flood control projects.

During the House committee on public works and highways hearing, Cabral confirmed the P51 billion three years infrastructure projects was allocated to the 1st district of Davao City during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s term.

While, Lacson in his privilege speech said that a staff of Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III allegedly received a call from Cabral, asking to make an insertion in the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

Sotto confirmed Lacson’s expose.