Security lapses on Cataroja escape unearthed

An official from the Bureau of Corrections revealed on Thursday that jail officers did not check the truck's underside which was used during the escape of person deprived of liberty Michael Cataroja.

BuCor deputy director general and Board of Inquiry chairperson Al Pereras said that based on the CCTV footage, some officers of the BuCor did not check the underside of the truck when it went out of the New Bilibid Prison.

However, Pereras 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.

He said that it shows that no one among the duty guards used the mirror during that time, adding that they can really see that the jail guards just peeked under the truck.

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

He narrated that the Diversified and Maintenance Unit would prod the contents of the garbage truck and 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.

Perreras said they asked the jail guards why they were just standing when their obligation was to supervise the aides and the inmate custodial aides.

"That was the security protocol that was violated," Perreras said.

Meantime, Cataroja — who was present at the hearing — disclosed 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.

He added that at the third stop, he did not see the officers use any mirrors or K9, contrary to the sworn statement of an officer who was not present during the hearing.

On the other hand, Correction Officer 1 Cesar Habal said he and one CO2 Calalin used an under-chassis mirror to check the underside of the truck and saw nothing.

Senator Francis Tolentino told the jail guards that they were holding the mirror with the handle and if they saw anything in which Habal said he did not see anything.

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 but Habal maintained that he did not see anything.