Remulla on body in septic tank: Na-fake news ako

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla clarified on Thursday that the department has no information yet on the identity of the headless body found in a septic tank of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

Remulla earlier announced that the body belonged to Michael Cataroja, a person deprived of liberty, who has been missing since July 15.

He said the wrong information reached him, which he shared to the media.

"Na-fake news po ako na nahanap ang katawan na putol ang ulo. 'Yun po yung unang sinabi sa akin, na dumating po sa aking feed nung isang madaling araw. Kasi i wake up early in the morning to look at the feeds about the department," Remulla said in a hearing at the House of Representatives.

The NBP sought the help of the Philippine Coast Guard's K9 units in searching for the missing inmate.

"May K9 na ginamit, 'yung k9 ay pinaamoy ang damit ni Cataroja at yung aso ay mabilis na mabilis tumakbo sa septic tank," Remulla said.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said the piece of bone and the underwear retrieved from the tank are still being examined.

The DOJ and the NBI said Cataroja is still considered missing. Authorities  continue to look for him, including in his former home in Angono, Rizal.

Meanwhile, Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. apologized for reporting the septic tank incident to the DOJ two days late.

"Ipagpaumanhin ninyo the Secretary, I just underwent bypass kaya kung puwede sa level ko lang muna kasi wala namang masama kung na-delay ko po," Catapang said told the House probe.

“Ang status po niya (Cataroja) ay missing. Hangga’t di natin nabubuksan ang lahat ng septic tank at nagagalugad ang buong NBP, our declaration is he is missing,” Catapang told lawmakers, adding that there are at least eight septic tanks in NBP premises.

Anthropologists have arrived at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) to collect residue and examine hard objects found in a septic tank, the Bureau of Corrections said Friday.

In a statement, the BuCor said anthropologists Nestor Castro of the University of the Philippines and Jonathan Taduran of the University of Cordillera and Lyceum-Davao arrived at the NBP on Thursday.

“Taduran said that they separated hard sediments for further examination to determine whether those they collected are indeed bones and to identify if it is human bones or bones of animals,” the agency said.

“Their findings will be out within two days to one week,” it added. —LDF/NB, GMA Integrated News