The K9 Task Force of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) helped in locating a missing person deprived of liberty (PDL) whose body was believed dumped inside the septic tank at the maximum-security compound of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Deputy Director General Angelina L. Bautista said that Michael Angelo Cataroja had been reported missing since last July 15.
When the PDLs and BuCor personnel failed to locate Cataroja, BuCor sought the assistance of the Philippine National Police (PNP) which conducted a manhunt in Cataroja’s last known address in Rizal.
But the PNP reported that “Cataroja’s mother instead of coordinating with them reportedly left their house and moved to the province.”
Thereafter, Bautista said that BuCor sought the help of the K9 Task Force of PCG. During the search, the K9 dogs pointed to a septic tank prompting BuCor to call the forensic team of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Human remains were discovered inside the septic tank. Bautista could not ascertain if all the remains belonged to PDLs who had earlier been reported missing.
As of posting, BuCor said that the NBI operatives are still at NBP collecting evidence or conducting field tests.
It said that Cataroja, 25, was “committed to NBP on July 26, 2022 after he was sentenced from 12 to 20 years for violations of Presidential Decree No. 612. the Anti-Fencing Act Law.”
“He has another pending case of carnaping before the Regional Trial Court Branch 71 of Antipolo City,” it said.