FILE PHOTO: New Bilibid Prison. Philippine Daily Inquirer/Grig C. Montegrande
MANILA, Philippines — The recent discovery of a mass grave at the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) has prompted a call for a thorough investigation by the Senate.
The probe was proposed through Senate Resolution No. 709, which was filed early this week by Senator Francis Tolentino.
In particular, the senator wants the Senate committee on justice and human rights to conduct the inquiry. The panel’s chairperson is Tolentino.
The proposed investigation followed the discovery of a mass grave at the NBP while authorities were searching for a missing inmate identified as Michael Angelo Cataroja. Human body parts were eventually found inside a septic tank located at the NBP’s maximum security compound.
READ: Human body parts found in Bilibid septic tank
Cataroja was sentenced to serve from 12 to 20 years for violating the anti-fencing law. He has been reported missing since July 15 this year.
Tolentino also mentioned in his resolution the July 26 gang fight at the NBP that left one inmate dead and several others injured.
Senate Resolution No. 709 cited records from the Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) showing 673 deaths – eight of which were caused by asphyxia, one was caused by gunshot wounds, six were caused by stab wounds, and three were caused by traumatic head injuries – at the NBP as of December 2022.
READ: More Bilibid mass graves possible, says DOJ chief
“One wonders how these contraband, i.e. guns, ice picks and other weapons, which caused death and injury to people were in the possession of these PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) and found their way inside the Bucor despite the protocols being observed therein by Bucor personnel and why the bodies of several dead PDLs were found inside the septic tank without these Bucor personnel knowing about it until recently,” Tolentino pointed out in his resolution.
The senator believes a “thorough investigation” by the Senate would shed light on all these questions.