Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 8) — The piece of bone found in the septic tank at the New Bilibid Prison compound is not of human origin, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said Tuesday.
NBI forensic expert Annalyne Dadiz said the bone is similar to a chicken leg based on their investigation.
\”We conducted the process of forensic identification,\” Dadiz told the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights. \”Through this process we made use of elimination and comparison, and we concluded that it is not of human origin.\”
“Likelihood, through the process of comparison, it is consistent with a chicken leg bone,” she added.
The piece of bone was found along with male underwear and several lighters and razors, mixed with the solid waste in the septic tank.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier retracted his statement that the human remains found in the septic tank belongs to Bilibid inmate Michael Cataroja, who has been missing since July 15. The justice chief said that he received wrong information.
With the NBI’s finding, Bureau of Corrections chief Gregorio Catapang Jr. said that Cataroja could have possibly escaped the NBP compound and is now hiding.
\”Malakas po ang kutob ko na nakatakas. Kasi si [Cataroja], ang kaso po niyan ay magnanakaw ng mga sasakyan. Kaya niya pong kalikutin kung ano man, carnapper po siya. May chance po na nakalusot,\” he said.
[Translation: I have a strong hunch that he was able to escape. Because his case was for theft of vehicles. He can work his way around because he is a carnapper. So there’s a high chance that he escaped.]
Meanwhile, Cataroja’s fellow members in the Sputnik gang inside the Bilibid, say they also have no any idea of his whereabouts.
But Senator Ronald Dela Rosa said that it is impossible that they do not have any hint on what happened to Cataroja.
“Imposible, hindi ako maniwala na walang nakakaalam diyan. So kung hindi sumisingaw ‘yung impormasyon na ‘yan, nagco-cover up kayo diyan, kayong mga leader-leader diyan sa loob,” the former police chief said.
[Translation: It’s impossible, I don’t believe that no one knows where he is. So if the information has not spread, you leaders inside could just be covering up for him.]
The DOJ earlier said that gangs inside the prison have been dumping bodies in the septic tank.
