Jail officers did not check truck underside during Cataroja escape —BuCor exec

CCTV footage showed that some officers of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) did not check the underside of the truck used by inmate Michael Cataroja to escape from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), an official said Thursday.

BuCor Deputy Director General and Board of Inquiry Chairman Al Pereras, however, was not able to present the footage during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights as he only had screenshots of the footage on hand.

“Nagpapakita po dito na walang gumamit na salamin ang mga duty guards during the time (It shows here that no one among the duty guards used the mirror during that time),” he said.

“Makikita dito wala po talaga. Sinilip lang nilang ganyan (You can really see it here. They just peeked under the truck),” he later added.

Pereras explained that there were three inspections to go through before a garbage truck could leave the premises.

First, Pereras said the Diversified and Maintenance Unit would prod the contents of the garbage truck. Once cleared, the inmate custodial aides would check the vehicle without any equipment at the inner gate. After this, aides would check the truck with an under-chassis mirror at the outer gate.

“Sinasabi nga namin bakit doon kayo magga-guwardiya? Supposed to be ang ano niyo, ang inyong obligasyon, dito, or kaya i-supervise niyo ‘yung mga aide, inmate custodial aide,” he said.

(We asked them why they were standing guard there. Their obligation was to supervise the aides, the inmate custodial aides.)

“Ayun nga po 'yung mga security protocol na na-violate (that was the security protocol that was violated),” he added.

Cataroja, who was present at the hearing, said that while hiding under the truck, he heard the thumping sounds from the first examination. He said he also saw a person peek under the truck but that person did not see him.

During the third stop, Cataroja said he did not see the officers use any mirrors or K9, contrary to the sworn statement of an officer.

The officer was not present during the hearing.

Earlier in the hearing, Correction Officer 1 (CO1) Cesar Habal said he and one CO2 Calalin used an under-chassis mirror to check the underside of the truck and saw nothing.

“Hawak-hawak mo ‘yung salamin na may tangkay, may nakita ka (you were holding the mirror with the handle, did you see anything)?” Senator Francis Tolentino, the committee chairman, asked Habal.

“Wala po sir (I did not see anything),” Habal said.

Tolentino then presented a photo he took during Cataroja’s reenactment of how he escaped, where an orange form could be clearly seen from an under-chassis mirror.

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Habal, however, maintained that he did not see anything.

Meanwhile, according to Tolentino, Cataroja’s polygraph test results showed “no specific reactions indicative of deception” when he was asked if he was telling the truth regarding his escape.

“Lumalabas dito, no specific reactions indicative of deception. Para ngang nagsasabi siya ng totoo. Walang deception,” he said.

(It shows here that there was no specific reactions indicative of deception. It seems that he was telling the truth. There’s no deception.)

Cataroja also apologized to his fellow inmates for escaping.

Meanwhile, based on the partial findings of the BuCor Board of Inquiry, the agency is recommending the filing of administrative cases and formal charges against some BuCor personnel.

BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr., however, said the investigation is still ongoing. He said they are seeking to finish the inquiry within two weeks.

Authorities said Cataroja evaded authorities on July 7. On August 17, BuCor announced that he was rearrested by in Angono, Rizal after a tip from a concerned citizen. —KBK, GMA Integrated News