BuCor to tap UP forensics in excavating second Bilibid septic tank

The Bureau of Corrections will coordinate with forensic experts from the University of the Philippines in the excavation of the second septic tank at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), BuCor director-general Gregorio Catapang Jr. said on Monday.

“This morning makikipag-usap kami, makikipag-ugnayan kami sa UP Forensics kung papaano namin huhukayin 'yung second septic tank,” Catapang said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(This morning we will discuss and coordinate with the UP Forensics how we will excavate the second septic tank.)

The coordination with the UP Forensics came upon the instruction of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Catapang said.

“Nu’ng nag-usap kami ni secretary last Friday, ang sabi niya, ‘Di 'wag mo muna pagawa, pagalaw ‘yung another septic tank, ‘yung karugtong na septic tank. Forensics na ang papasok diyan, UP forensics,’” said the BuCor chief.

(During our conversation with the secretary last Friday, he said, ‘Don’t excavate the second septic tank. The forensics team of UP will handle that.’)

Last week, Remulla said a decapitated body was found inside a septic tank at the NBP.

The Justice secretary said it belongs to a person deprived of liberty who has been missing since July 15 this year.

According to Catapang, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was the lead agency who handled the case of the decapitated body found inside the first septic tank at the NBP.

He said he cannot confirm if there is only one body that was apparently buried inside the septic tank.

“'Pag nakakuha pa tayo ng iba-ibang buto-buto, mapipilitan akong i-review ‘yung sinasabi nila. May mga report dito na missing o tumakas,” he said.

(If we find more bones inside the septic tank, I will be forced to review the reports of missing PDLs or PDLs who reportedly escaped from prison.)

The BuCor chief said he wants to put an end to this “culture” within this term.

“Gusto ko kasi tapusin na ‘yang issue ng mga septic tank—‘yung binabaon 'pag nagkamali, diyan ililibing. Once and for all, lahat ng septic tank bubuksan natin tapos aayusin na rin natin ang septic tank kasi punong-puno na e, umaapaw na e, nangangamoy na,” he said.

(I wanted to end this issue of burying bodies inside the septic tank. Once and for all, we will open all the septic tanks and at the same time we will clean it because the wastes are already overflowing.)

“Itutugma-tugma natin ‘yan 'pag may nakuha pa tayong buto-buto diyan… Yung kultura na ganyan, ayoko na sa term ko. Ayoko ng [person deprived of liberty] ‘pag ‘di sila nagka-intindihan, titirahin nila ‘yung kasamahan nila tapos ilalagay kung saan diyan tapos ide-declare naman na missing o nakatakas. ‘Yun pala naibaon na,” he added.

(If we find any more bones [in the septic tank], we will trace those. I do not want that culture to continue during my term. I don't want PDLs attacking each other if they have misunderstanding then placing the dead bodies there. They would then declare the dead PDL as missing or escaped but the truth is he was thrown [in the septic tank].)

It is the first time that he encountered this since he was appointed to the post nine months ago, Catapang said.

“First time lang ‘to. Nagtataka ako [kasi] after nine months na nanungkulan ako, walang problema. Napag-ayos ang pangkat. Nagkaisa na sila, may sarili silang gobyerno,” he said.

(This is the first time that this incident happened. I am wondering why it happened because since I took the post nine months ago, there have been no problems at the NBP. I was able to unite the groups and they even have the leeway to govern themselves.) —KG, GMA Integrated News