Senate wraps up probe on Bilibid septic tank

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate yesterday concluded its investigation into the July 7 escape of New Bilibid Prison convict Michael Cataroja and found lapses in security at the NBP.

The Senate justice committee learned that no human remains were found in the prison’s septic tank.

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) deputy director general for administration Al Perreras said closed-circuit television footage of Cataroja’s alleged escape showed that the jail guards failed to use the under chassis mirror.

Cataroja has said he was able to escape by hiding under the garbage truck’s compartment.

Sen. Francis Tolentino, whAo chairs the committee, said it seemed that Cataroja was telling the truth about his escape, especially after he passed a polygraph test.

But Sen. Robin Padilla, who spent four years in prison for illegal firearms possession but was pardoned in 1997, said he was not sold on the idea that Cataroja managed to escape that easily from Bilibid.

Padilla urged BuCor chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. to continue looking into the possibility that the septic tank was used as dumping site for murdered convicts.

The septic tank grave, the initial subject of the Senate investigation after Cataroja was reported missing, was ruled out after no human remains were found by the University of the Philippines forensics team led by anthropologist Nestor Castro.

A piece of bone excavated from the septic tank turned out to be a chicken leg bone.