Mystery Solved: Missing Inmate from Philippines’ New Bilibid Prison Recaptured
MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has announced the resolution of a perplexing case involving the disappearance of a person deprived of liberty (PDL) in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP). According to a statement released on Thursday night, August 17, PDL Michael Angelo Cataroja has been recaptured by the Angono police in Rizal after going missing last month. This development comes as a relief, considering the confusion and embarrassment it caused in various offices.
To address the incident, Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. has ordered a thorough investigation into how Cataroja managed to escape from the heavily guarded New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. The aim of this investigation is to identify the individuals responsible for the PDL’s escape. Additionally, a board of inquiry will be formed to conduct a probe into the matter, as stated by the BuCor.
Cataroja had been serving his sentence for violating the anti-fencing law and had been incarcerated at the state penitentiary for around two years. His sudden disappearance not only caused disruption in the justice sector but also raised concerns in the legislative arena.
The confusion surrounding Cataroja’s case further intensified on July 26 when officials from BuCor and Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Boying Remulla reported the discovery of a corpse inside the national penitentiary during the search for Cataroja. However, Remulla later retracted his statement, clarifying that the corpse found in the Bilibid septic tank did not belong to Cataroja.
Initially, the DOJ chief had stated that Cataroja’s decapitated body was found near an area occupied by a criminal gang within the facility. Authorities were still on the lookout for his missing head. Yet, on August 3, Remulla acknowledged his mistake, explaining that the information he received was incorrect.
During a Senate hearing on August 8, the National Bureau of Investigation presented their findings, revealing that the remains recovered were not human but rather chicken bones. This revelation debunked the earlier claim and shed light on the confusion surrounding the case.
In conclusion, the recapture of Michael Angelo Cataroja provides a resolution to the mysterious disappearance of a PDL from the Philippines’ New Bilibid Prison. With the BuCor launching an investigation into the circumstances of his escape, it is hoped that the responsible parties will be identified. The incident has underscored the need for enhanced security measures within the prison system and has brought attention to the issues surrounding governance and administration of the national penitentiary.
