Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 28) — The House of Representatives is expected to start its investigation next week on the discovery of human remains inside a septic tank in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo said on Friday.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source, Tulfo said he already spoke to House Committee on Public Order and Safety chairman Dan Fernandez, who said the hearing will be “ASAP, around Thursday.”
Tulfo earlier filed a resolution calling for an investigation after the decapitated body of inmate Michael Cataroja, who was missing for days, was found in the Sputnik compound inside the national penitentiary.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla told CNN Philippines on Thursday that authorities are investigating three possible mass graves inside the NBP after other human remains were dug inside a septic tank in the maximum security compound.
Citing his source inside the NBP, Tulfo said it is not really Bureau of Correction (BuCor) officials who are running the facility, but the gang leaders.
“Dito po sa labas, wala po tayong death penalty pero diyan sa loob may death penalty po sila. They have their own government, they have their own laws and ang law nila is they can sentence you to death penalty,” he pointed out.
[Translation: Here outside we do not have the death penalty but there inside they have the death penalty. They have their own government, they have their own laws and their law is they can sentence you to death penalty.]
Meanwhile, Remulla also said that gangs have been dumping bodies in septic tanks.
\”Yung kasaysayan na binibigay sa amin ng mga testigo, ng mga taga loob, ay mukhang matagal na nangyayari ito. May mga gangs na may proclivity na maglibing ng tao sa septic tank,\” he said in a press briefing.
[Translation: Based on the history shared by the witnesses, by the insiders, it seemed that this has been happening ever since. There are gangs who have the proclivity to bury bodies in the septic tank.]
Through the House probe, Tulfo said he hopes to put an end to this ongoing problem of illegal activities inside the NBP.
