Senate to find out how the Bilibid security breach happened

Senator Francis Tolentino (File photo from Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines —Senate is set to investigate how a person deprived of liberty (PDL) or a convict initially thought to be dead was able to escape from New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

This comes after reports on Michael Cataroja surfaced.

He is the Bilibid prisoner who was first reported to be the one whose body parts were supposedly discovered in a septic tank at NBP.

Police found him alive in Angono, Rizal.

“Matutuon ngayon ang hearing ng Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights kung paano nakatakas si PDL Michael Cataroja at kung ano ang naging kapabayaan ng BuCor (Bureau of Corrections), sa hearing sa Martes, Agosto 22,” said Senator Francis Tolentino in a statement.

(The hearing of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights will now focus on how PDL Michael Cataroja escaped and what was the negligence committed by BuCor, on the hearing on Tuesday, August 22.)

Before he bolted jail, Cataroja had been serving a prison term of 12 to 20 years due to violations of the Anti-Fencing Law.

He was reported missing on July 15.

The fragments found in the septic tank of NBP turned out to be chicken bones.

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