Catapang believes missing Bilibid inmate escaped

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. on Tuesday said he believes that the person deprived of liberty (PDL) who went missing from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in July has escaped.

During the continuation of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights' probe on missing PDL Michael Cataroja, Catapang said he “strongly feels” that the PDL has escaped.

“Maliit po ito na tao at kayang ilagay na sa sakong maliit na akala ay nabasura na po siya… Puwede pong mangyari po 'yun kasi maliit na tao po ito,” he said.

(He’s a small person who can be hidden in a sack and resemble a trash bag… This could happen because he’s small.)

The remark drew alarm from Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who stressed that Cataroja went missing from the Maximum Security Compound of the NBP.

“Nu'ng panahon ko pati tangke ng truck na nagde-deliver ng basura, pinapatusok-tusok ko pa ‘yan para sigurado tayo. Meaning, there’s a degree of laxity on the inspection of trucks delivering in and out. Baka kailangan mag-improve tayo diyan,” Dela Rosa, who was BuCor director general in 2018, said.

(During my time, I even ordered that personnel pierce the garbage being carried by garbage trucks to make sure. Meaning, there’s a degree of laxity in the inspection of trucks delivering in and out. Maybe we need to improve there.) 

Catapang in response said it is the NBP superintendent who should be in charge of these problems but it is falling to him as his office is near.

He said he will also remind the NBP guards to be more security-conscious.

The senator, however, stressed that Catapang has command responsibility.

“Dapat incumbent on your part, hinanapan mo ng magaling na NBP superintendent na masiguro natin ‘yung ganyan. Kasi maximum ito, maximum,” Dela Rosa said.

(It should be incumbent on your part to look for a good NBP superintendent to make sure about these kinds of things. Because this is the maximum [security compound].)

Meanwhile, Senator Robin Padilla, who has been detained at the NBP before, said he finds it hard to believe that the mayores of Building 5 where Cataroja stayed had no knowledge of his disappearance.

“Commander, galing akong Bilibid a. Paano naman hindi alam ni mayor na missing? Hindi niya alam? Kelan niya nalaman, nu'ng bilangan?” Padilla said.

(Commander, I came from Bilibid. How did the mayor not know that he was missing? When did he find out, during counting?)

Sputnik Gang Leader Boboy Morales said Cataroja was still present during counting on the morning and afternoon of July 15. He said it was only at 6 p.m. that the mayores reported Cataroja missing.

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa questioned the NBP gang leaders on whether they were covering up Cataroja’s disappearance.

“Imposible namang mawala ng parang bula 'yung isang tao. Sigurado — alam mo, sa higaan pa lang ninyo dikit-dikit na kayo eh — sigurado ako merong tsismis diyan… na nagsasabi si Cataroja wala na, tinunaw na 'yun, tinapon na ‘yun sa kuwan, septic tank. O kaya magsasabi na si Cataroja talaga sumibat ‘yun,” he said.

(It's impossible for a person to disappear without a trace. Even when sleeping, you're together. I'm sure that there were rumors...  saying that Cataroja is gone, he's been killed, and thrown into the septic tank. Or maybe rumors that say that Cataroja really escaped.)

“Imposible, hindi ako naniniwala na walang nakakaalam diyan. So kung hindi sumisingaw 'yung impormasyon na 'yan, nagco-cover up kayo diyan. Kayong mga leader-leader diyan sa loob,” he added.

(It's impossible. I don't believe that no one knew about it. So if the information is not getting out, you are covering it up, you leaders inside.)

The NBP gang leaders for their part said they are doing what they can to find out what happened.

Cataroja’s disappearance in July was first announced by recently-relieved BuCor superintendent Angie Bautista.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has said that Cataroja’s remains were found decapitated at the NBP, but later said that he was a victim of “fake news.”

During the hearing, Dr. Annalyne Dadiz of the National Bureau of Investigation Medico-Legal Division said the bones found in the septic tank were “consistent with [a] chicken leg bone.” —KG, GMA Integrated News