SEN. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa yesterday said the commanders of different gangs at the New Bilibid Prison are pulling the legs of Bureau of Corrections officials over the disappearance of an inmate last month.
During a hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Justice at the NBP over the discovery of alleged human bones in a septic tank at the facility, Dela Rosa said the gang commanders are clearly covering up the disappearance of Michael Cataroja, who was reported missing last July 15.
Dela Rosa, a former BuCor chief, said gang commanders wield so much influence and fear among all the prisoners, adding this means they know everything happening inside the penitentiary.
In an apparent bid to squeeze more information, Sen. Francis Tolentino, who chairs the committee, asked BuCor chief Gregorio Catapang to present the eight gang commanders, two at a time, before the panel so they could shed light on what really happened to Cataroja.
Boboy Morales, commander of the Sigue-Sigue Sputnik Gang that counts Cataroja among its members, said the missing prisoner was accounted for during the headcount done at 8 a.m., 12 p.m., and 4 p.m. of July 14.
Two hours later, Morales said he was informed by one of his “mayores” that Cataroja was missing.
All the other gang commanders said they are clueless about why Cataroja went missing.
Dela Rosa said it was very hard to believe that Cataroja just went missing without a trace and Morales not knowing what happened, adding gang commanders are keeping mum on what really happened.
He also said the truth will eventually come out.
“Information will surely come out. You are covering up for each other; (I’m sure) information will surely come out. People there fear you, you are tough guys,” Dela Rosa told the gang commanders.
Catapang said he believes Cataroja managed to escape from the NBP’s Maximum Security Compound because “he is a small man that can fit into a sack. It can be possible since he is small.”
Dela Rosa said during his time as BuCor chief, he would order the pile of garbage being hauled out of the NBP to be pierced with a long-pointed object to make sure no one was escaping.
A gang commander recalled there was an instance when a prisoner hid in the bottom of a garbage truck but was eventually discovered by guards before the rubbish was brought out of the compound.
Dela Rosa said if Catapang’s theory is to be believed, “there’s a degree of laxity in the inspection of truck(s) delivering in and out” of the facility.
Catapang tried to wash his hands over the disappearance of Cataroja, saying it’s the responsibility of the NBP Superintendent Angelina Bautista, who earlier asked to be relieved so a transparent investigation can be held. But Dela Rosa said Catapang should also be held liable under the principle of command responsibility.
‘CHICKEN BONE’
Dr. Annalyn Dadiz of the National Bureau of Investigation forensics division said the alleged “human bone” found in a septic tank in the NBP was “consistent with a chicken leg bone.”
She said the bone was found in a lump of solid wastes that included a man’s underwear and two razors, which prompted the team to conduct an elimination and comparison process.
“In all likelihood, through the process of comparison, it is consistent with a chicken leg bone,” Dadiz said.
In a press conference after the hearing, Dela Rosa said Cataroja may still be inside the NBP compound but added the possibility that he is still alive is slim.
He said prison guards may be tempted to allow the entry of contraband items inside the NBP for a fee but it is a “mortal sin” for them to allow a prisoner to escape.
“They will never allow a PDL (person deprived of liberty) to escape because that is not only an insult to their being a correctional officer, but an insult to the bureaucracy, to the government, as well. That will never happen, I don’t think so,” Dela Rosa said.
He said he believes that Cataroja may have been killed and buried “somewhere” inside the NBP compound, and called on Catapang to exert extra efforts in locating the missing prisoner.
“Somebody sanctioned the killing. It is impossible for him to die, and disappear, without sanction from the gang commanders. It is sanctioned. But they colluded to hide the truth. But I believe the truth will come out, I am sure of that,” he added.
INMATE STABBED DEAD
Despite tightened security measures after an inmate was shot dead and nine others were injured last month, another inmate detained at the NBP’s maximum security compound was stabbed dead after an altercation with a fellow inmate last August 6.
The BuCor identified the fatality as Romelito Dural, 50, who sustained multiple stab wounds and was pronounced dead on arrival at the NBP Hospital.
A statement issued by the BuCor late Monday night said Dural has been incarcerated since 2017 for two counts of attempted homicide.
The agency said Dural was stabbed by Mark Mengullo, who is detained at the NBP for murder.
“He (Mengullo) claimed he was being bullied by Dural for a long time and that he can no longer take it, that is why he took the matter into his own hands,” the BuCor said.
Mengullo surrendered to responding BuCor personnel after the incident and an investigation is ongoing on how he managed to get his hand on a deadly weapon.
Last month, a misunderstanding between inmates belonging to two gangs inside the NBP resulted in a shooting incident that led to the death of inmate Alvin Barna and injury to nine others.
That incident prompted the BuCor to temporarily suspend visitation rights NBP and to further tighten security measures. — With Ashzel Hachero
