THE Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) will check all the septic tanks of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) amid several tips that some persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who were reported either as missing or have escaped in the past were actually buried there.
In a television interview, BuCor director-general Gregorio Catapang Jr. said on Monday, July 31, 2023, that as ordered by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, they have tapped the forensic experts from the University of the Philippines for the excavation of the septic tanks.
“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 want to end the issue of septic tanks, where those who did something wrong were reportedly buried. Once and for all, we will open all the septic tanks and then we will fix the septic tanks because they are full, overflowing, and smelling.)
“Itutugma-tugma natin ‘yan 'pag may nakuha pa tayong buto-buto diyan. ‘Yung kultura na ganyan, ayoko na sa term ko. Ayoko ng ‘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.
(We'll match that when we get some bones there. I don't want a culture like that. I don't want that if they don't understand each other, they will leave their colleague and then put them somewhere and then declare them missing or escaped.)
Last week, a decapitated body, which Remulla confirmed to be that of a PDL who was reported missing since July 15, was found inside a septic tank.
Investigation on the death of the PDL is ongoing.
Remulla said the death of the inmate could be related to the “so-called killing” inside the facility before Catapang took office in March.
Catapang replaced General Gerald Bantag, who is now facing murder charges over the death of veteran radio broadcaster Percy Lapid and Jun Villamor, the NBP inmate who allegedly facilitated the latter’s killing. (SunStar Philippines)