ONE inmate died while nine others were injured in what was initially believed as a riot between warring persons deprived of liberty last Tuesday night at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa.
But Jail Sr. Inspector Angelina Bautista said there was no riot but a misunderstanding between inmates belonging to the Bahala na Gang and Batang City Jail at the facility’s maximum-security compound.
Bautista said at the height of the commotion, one inmate drew a gun and suddenly started firing.
“Although the duo was immediately pacified, one of the persons deprived of liberty who was not a party to the earlier misunderstanding fired a gun, prompting other persons deprived of liberty to panic and scuffle for safety,” Bautista said in a report to Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr.
Bautista identified the PDL who fired the gun as Joseph Serrano. She said they are investigating how Serrano was able to obtain a firearm.
After the commotion ended, responding BuCor personnel found inmate Alvin Barna dead due to an icepick wound while nine others identified as Ampatuan Misuari, Emmanuel Carino, Makakna Iman, Marlon Cepe, Bernand Marfilla, Franklin Siquijor, Joner Moralde, Heron Supitran and Ardie Severa sustained minor injuries.
Bautista said that they are investigating if the two incidents are related.
The incident prompted the BuCor to temporarily suspend visitation rights at the NBP.
In another development, a chopped body was found inside a septic tank in one of the dorms inside the NBP.
Bautista told radio dzBB that they have yet to identify if it is Michael Angelo Cataroja, the first inmate reported missing since Catapang assumed the BuCor post in October 2022. She said several inmates have been missing since 2019.
Bautista said they have tapped the National Bureau of Investigation Forensic Science Research Service to assist them in the retrieval and identification of the chopped body.
Before this, Catapang asked for the assistance of the Philippine Coast Guard in searching for Cataroja, who was reported missing since July 15.
The BuCor and PCG, assisted by their search and rescue dogs, started their search for Cataroja last Friday inside the sprawling NBP complex, to no avail.
Cadaver dogs specializing in detecting decomposing flesh were later brought in.
Bautista said one of the cadaver dogs smelled something in the septic tank located inside the NBP Quadrant 3 dorm 8 where the body was located.
Cataroja was committed to the NBP on July 26, 2022 after he was meted 12 to 20 years for violation of Presidential Decree 1612 or the Anti-Fencing Act Law. He has another pending case of carnapping before the Regional Trial Court Branch 71 of Antipolo City.
Based on the initial investigation, Cataroja was discovered missing on the morning of July 15. His fellow inmates looked for him the whole day as this was not the first time that he had gone missing only to show up the next day.
After more than 12 hours of searching, the inmates reported him missing to the maximum-security compound duty officer.
Bautista said that while the search for Cataroja was ongoing, they also coordinated with members of the PNP to hunt for Cataroja in his last known address in Sitio Manahan Bato, Barangay Don Mariano, San Isidro, Antonio, Rizal.
At the House, ACT-CIS party-list Reps. Erwin Tulfo, her sister-in-law Jocelyn Tulfo and Edvic Yap filed House Resolution No. 1136 seeking the House to look into the incident.
“As part of the duties and functions of the House of Representatives, it is prudent to revisit and scrutinize existing laws, regulations, and circumstances that affect the country’s public order and safety primarily the country’s correctional facilities,” the resolution said.
Erwin, a former broadcast journalist, said his source at the NBP told him that Cataroja has been missing since June and that he was killed after being involved in a drug deal.
The lawmaker said moneyed inmates continue to enjoy the pleasures they are not supposed to have inside the NBP such as lengthy conjugal visits, fast food deliveries, online shopping and possession of high-powered firearms, which, he said, appear to be among the weapons used in the clash between Sputnik and Batang Cebu gangs after Cataroja went missing.
Erwin said a “kubol” can be “rented” for as long as a whole week and used by an inmate to bond with his or her family and that some inmates can have food and items delivered after shopping online.
“This has been going on and on. They are back to their usual ways. They stop for a week when the media is focused on the issue. When another news comes up and the media turns the other way, the corrupt system is again in place. We filed a resolution to end this cycle in the New Bilibid Prison,” he said. — With Wendell Vigilia
