BuCor relieves about ten personnel after a convict escaped from Bilibid

BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. in a photo taken on November 24, 2022 (INQUIRER file picture / NINO JESUS ORBETA)

MANILA, Philippines — Around ten to 15 Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) personnel have been relieved from duty amid an investigation on the escape of New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Maximum Security Compound prisoner Michael Cataroja.

BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said the agency is investigating the staff for possible negligence.

“Na-identify na namin pero hindi muna namin ilalabas ang pangalan kasi under investigation pa. Pwedeng negligence [ang isasampa], so pwede silang matanggal sa trabaho,” he said.

(We have identified them but we will not release their names because it is still under investigation. It can be negligence [that will be filed], so they can be fired.)

“Sampu hanggang 15 ang dapat managot dito, kasi meron tayong keeper, overall keeper, commander of the guards and superintendent,” the BuCor chief made an estimate.

(Ten to 15 should be responsible for this, because we have a keeper, overall keeper, commander of the guards and superintendent.)

Those relieved also include two jail guards who were in charge of inspecting the jail truck Cataroja allegedly boarded to be able to get away from NBP.

“Pwede kasing makita kung masinsin eh. Dapat siguro ngayon, hindi lang salamin. Kailangan, mismong guwardiya, sisilip na rin.”

(He could have been seen if only the inspection was thorough. Maybe now, it shouldn’t be inspected with just a mirror. The guard himself needs to take a peek.)

Talagang medyo naisahan tayo diyan,” Catapang concluded.

(We were really fooled in this one.)

When asked if he is convinced that Cataroja had accomplices, the BuCor head replied he needs more information.

“Hindi pa, pero bahala na ang board of inquiry sa investigation,” he said.

(Not yet, but the board of inquiry will handle the investigation.)

Cataroja was sent to BuCor on July 26, 2022 for violating Presidential Decree 1612 or the Anti-Fencing Law.

He was transferred to Maximum Security Compound due to a pending carnapping case on October 20 of the same year.

The convict was first reported to be missing last July.

He was initially thought to be the owner of bones recovered from a septic tank in NBP.

Then, he was found alive in Rizal by Angono police on August 17.

Catapang said additional charges will be filed against Cataroja for evasion of service (prison term).

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