Inmate ng NBP na si Michael Cataroja nais paimbestigahan ni ACT-CIS Party List Cong. Erwin Tulfo

DAHIL nasasangkot na naman sa panibagong kontrobersiya ang New Bilibid Prison (NBP). Hinihilling ni ACT-CIS Party List Congressman Erwin T. Tulfo sa liderato ng Kamara de Representates na magkaroon ng isang malalimang imbestigasyon sa nasabing pambansang piitan kaugnay sa misyeryong pagkawala ng isa sa mga inmate nito na si Michael Cataroja.

Inihain ni Congressman Tulfo ang House Resolution No. 1136 sa Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso para magkaroon ng isang malalimang pagsisiyasat ang isang partikular na Komite patungkol sa kontrobersiyal na pagkawala ng bilanggo na si Cataroja mula sa Maximum Security Compund ng NBP sa ilalim ng pangangasiwa naman ng Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

Sinabi ni Tulfo na napa-ulat  noong June 2023 na ang inmate na si Cataroja (25 years old), nakulong dahil sa paglabag sa kasong Anti-Fencing Law at mayroong nakabimbing kaso ng car theft, ay nawawala mula sa kaniyang kulungan.

Dahil dito, nabatid kay Tulfo na hiningi na ng BuCor ang tulong ng Philippine Caost Guard (PCG) Search Team para halughugin ang 10.87 hektaryang Maximum Security Compound upang hanapin ang nawawalang si Cataroja. Kung saan, natagpuan aniya ang nasabing inmate sa loob ng isang septic tank sa loob ng Dormitory 8, Quadrant B ng NBP Compound.

Dahil sa insidenteng ito, binigyang diin ng baguhang kongresista na bilang pangunahing tungkulin ng Kamara de Representantes. Kinakailangan aniyang magsagawa ng masusing pagre-repaso sa kasalukuyang batas at rules and regulations kaugnay sa public order and safety ng bansa kabilang na dito ang mga "correctional facilties" patungkol sa kontrobersiyal na kaso ni Cataroja.

"As part of the duties and funcctions of the House f Representatives. It is prudent to revisit and scrutinize exissting laws, regulations and circumstances that affect the country's public order and safety primarily the country's correctional facilities," Paliwanag ni Tulfo.

Ipinunto pa ni Congressman Tulfo na patuloy parin namamayagpag sa loob ng NBP ang mga patayan sa kabila ng pagpapalit ng liderato sa Bureau of Corrections (BuCor). Kabilang na dito ang patuloy na bentahan ng illegal na droga at iba pang illegal na gawain. Kung saan, itinuturing na lamang ito bilang isang ordinaryong pangyayari sa loob ng NBP.

REP. ERWIN TULFO AND OTHER ACT-CIS PARTYLIST LAWMAKERS FILES RESOLUTION TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY REGARDING A MISSING INMATE FROM THE MAXIMUM SECURITY COMPOUND OF NBP

 

 

NEOPHYTE ACT-CIS partylist Rep. Erwin T. Tulfo, along with his colleagues from the said partylist filed a resolution today (July 26, 2023) urging the Congress to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on the incident of a missing inmate who was later found dead in a septic tank inside the maximum security compound of the National Bilibid Prison (NBP), in Muntinlupa city.

 

In a two-page House Resolution No. 1136, introduced by Cong. Tulfo and his other ACT-CIS partylist lawmakers, Rep. Jocelyn P. Tulfo and Rep. Edvic G. Yap, the solons urged the House of Representatives to conduct an inquiry on inmate Michael Angelo Cataroja, 25, who was reportedly missing last June 2023.

 

“As part of the duties and functions of the House of Representatives, it is prudent to revisit and scrutinize existing laws, regulations and circumstances that affect the country’s public order and safety primarily the country’s correctional facilities,” the resolution stated.

 

Cataroja’s case, who was detained at the Dorm 5 of maximum security compound of NBP,  was earlier exposed by Tulfo over his daily radio program aired in a government station Radyo Pilipinas last July 20, that a reliable informant told him that the inmate was missing since last month.

 

Earlier today, (July 26) Tulfo received an information from the same source that Cataroja was found dead in a septic tank of Dormitory 8 of the NBP prompting the lawmaker to immediately filed a resolution urging the Congress to conduct an immediate investigation.

 

In a statement, Rep. Tulfo averred that after the discovery of Cataroja’s body on July 25, a firefight between two warring gangs at the maximum security facility.

 

“Note that the inmates were allegedly armed with pistols and rifles according to my source where in one PDL (person deprived of liberty) died of gunshot wounds and nine others seriously injured,” Tulfo divulged.

 

“The killings inside the New Bilibid Prison continue with impunity despite the recent change of leadership at the Bureau of Corrections,” he added. “Corruption, drugs, and other illegal activities are a daily occurrence in the four walls of the national penitentiary.”

 

Reports said, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) seek the assistance of the search and rescue team of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to search the 10.87-hectare maximum security compound that resulted in the discovery of Cataroja’s body.

 

Cataroja was convicted for violating the Anti-Fencing Law and had a pending car theft case.

 

“There have been so many efforts to reform that correctional institution. However, it seems like there is no more hope for change. But I strongly believe that change can still happen under the Bagong Pilipinas administration of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” Tulfo also said in his statement. (END) wantta join us? sure, manure...