Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 21) — Senator Bato dela Rosa said an inmate escaping the national penitentiary, a maximum security compound, is a “mortal sin” for the authorities responsible for the security lapse.
“Sobra-sobrang [Too much] lapses. That’s unacceptable. Maximum security compound nalayasan ng isang preso [a prisoner was able to escape]. That’s a mortal sin, mortal sin ‘yan….Nakakahiya [It’s embarrassing],” the senator told reporters in a phone call.
Dela Rosa, a former director general of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), said a \”deep investigation\” should be carried out to pinpoint the extent of the negligence of duty among those in command.
According to authorities, inmate Michael Cataroja was reportedly able to escape the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) after impersonating a visitor and copying the prison’s stamp manually on his arm.
Cataroja later on revealed that he also escaped from the compound by riding a garbage truck.
The inmate has been missing since July 15 and was re-arrested a month later.
Command responsibility
When asked if current BuCor chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. is \”off the hook\” from the incident, the senator said he is \”not sure yet.\”
“Command responsibility should be applied dito sa mga commander, mga leader, administrator ng presohan…Titingnan nating kung hanggang saan aabot ‘yong command responsibility,” Dela Rosa said.
[Translation: Command responsibility should be applied here to commanders, leaders, prison administrators… We will see how far that command responsibility extends to.]
The senator said the prison superintendent is usually the authority responsible for the prison’s security.
