Burial of 50 inmates’ remains on 25 Nov.
The Bureau of Corrections on Monday said 50 more inmates’ remains out of the 176 corpses found at the funeral home in Muntinlupa City are set to be buried on Friday, 25 November.
BuCor acting Director-General Gregorio Catapang, in a television interview, said the agency will invite the relatives of the deceased inmates to the funeral.
Catapang’s announcement came after an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines recently called for the proper burial of the Bilibid inmates.
CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care executive secretary Fr. Nezelle Lirio earlier underscored the importance of giving respect even to the dead.
The 50 remains are among the 176 corpses of National Biibid Prison inmates found piled up on 7 November by the National Bureau of Investigation at the Eastern Funeral Homes — the sole accredited funeral home of BuCor.
The 176 corpses were reportedly at the funeral parlor since December 2021.
Earlier, ten bodies have already been buried within the premises of the state penitentiary. Some 50 remains will be subjected to autopsy while the remaining 56 are awaiting further disposition.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun said some 120 bodies are already “mummified” or in a state of decomposition.
The investigation into the murder of journalist Percival Lapid led to the discovery of the remains at the funeral homes.
Based on a list from the BuCor, most of the inmates allegedly died of acute myocardial infarction or heart attack, pneumonia, cardiorespiratory arrest, or the sudden loss of breathing and heart function.
Others deaths were due to cardiovascular “accidents” while one inmate was said to have taken his own life.
CoA probe on NBP diggings
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Monday that the Bureau of Corrections has requested the Commission on Audit to audit the memorandum of agreement entered into by suspended BuCor chief Gerald Bantag with Agua Tierra Oro Mina Development Corporation.
Under the MoA, ATOM would donate 234 hectares of land to BuCor and put up buildings where 28,000 inmates would be relocated. In return, the company will develop the 375-hectare New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa into a commercial, residential and industrial area.
The request, he said, was made by Catapang.
Remulla added that the project was not approved by then DoJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra and former President Rodrigo Duterte did even not attend the groundbreaking ceremony upon learning that it was not approved.
BuCor is said to have the second-biggest budget among DoJ agencies following the National Prosecutor’s Office.
He said the investigating authorities are currently completing their report before the DoJ files cases against those involved in the excavation.
Bantag receives subpoena
Lawyer Rocky Balisong received the subpoena of his client, BuCor suspended director-general Gerald Bantag.
Balisong said Bantag, who is facing two murder complaints in connection with the deaths of broadcaster Percy Lapid and inmate Cristito Villamor, is ready to face the charges.
“It depends on what will happen on Wednesday. If we will submit the counter affidavit and the panel requires that it should be subscribed before them, then he will go with us,” he said. “But we will see if it can be subscribed before other prosecutors… Maybe he doesn’t have to come with us.”