DOJ, BuCor clarify issue with missing PDLs

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00:00 Human rights advocates also always insist the state of a country's jail facilities is a good measure of how human dignity is upheld.

00:08 Thus, when some PDLs go missing, or worse, with their bodies allegedly ending up in septic tanks,

00:14 it's needless to say that the Philippines has a long way to go before making the grade as a base gen for human rights,

00:20 or at least in the eyes of advocates.

00:22 This report.

00:25 The Department of Justice together with the Bureau of Corrections clarified today that Michael Cataroja,

00:31 an inmate from the new Belivid Prison, is still considered missing and not dead.

00:35 This is in contrary to previous reports that his corpse was found inside the National Penitentiary's septic tank.

00:41 DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulia personally shed light on the issue

00:45 when he attended today's hearing of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety.

00:51 I was told that the body was found with a severed head.

00:56 That was the first thing I was told.

00:58 I received a feed.

01:00 What I found out is that a canine was used.

01:04 When the canine was used to smell Cataroja's clothes,

01:06 the dog ran to the septic tank as fast as it could

01:11 to tell the canine that the canine was there and that they were using it to smell the clothes.

01:16 But I was told that the body was found.

01:18 This was just one of the controversies brought up in the House inquiry.

01:22 In addition, the issues about contraband, conspiracy theories, overcrowding,

01:26 and even the lack of budget for PDL's food were also taken up.

01:30 The budget for one prisoner's food is P70 a day.

01:37 This includes three meals, lunch, lunch, and dinner.

01:40 I think we all know that this is very, very lacking.

01:43 Of course, this is being bid out under our rules.

01:46 If this is bid, and someone wins the bid,

01:49 that person will earn P70, which is less than P50 when it comes to the total amount.

01:56 The lawmakers assured to help the Justice Department resolve its problems in the Corrections Bureau,

02:02 especially with budget deliberations for the 2024 General Appropriations just around the corner.

02:08 We can assure you that this committee, and together with your representation,

02:12 will move heaven and earth to increase the budget of the Bureau of Corrections.

02:17 And probably high time to change the mindset and integrate our jail system

02:22 so that we can easily fix the problems.

02:25 In today's inquiry, the Bureau of Corrections also guaranteed putting in place

02:29 certain measures to improve the situation not only in Bilibid,

02:32 but also in other prison facilities across the country.

02:35 This includes more decongestant measures, crafting new and stricter policies,

02:40 and establishment of better systems and facilities.

02:43 We want Bucor to be relevant and sustainable.

02:47 In conclusion, the short, medium, and long-term plans of Bucor outline in our direction

02:54 to address the pressing issues, modernize our correctional facilities,

02:59 and ensure a more efficient and humane correction system.

03:03 If we do not address this problem sooner or later, the problems will get worse.

03:07 Melales Moras for the Nation.

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