Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Catapang on Thursday confirmed that there were no multiple mass graves within the maximum security compound of New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.
The confirmation comes after BuCor personnel conducted a thorough inspection of three septic tanks in NBP.
“Bale, tatlong septic tank. Negative lahat, negative for human remains,” Catapang told reporters in an interview.
“Wala naman talagang mass grave,” he added.
The BuCor Chief said they submitted the result of the findings to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and to the Senate to resolve the issue.
“Kung wala naman talagang mass grave, so be it,” Catapang remarked.
In a separate interview, DOJ spokesperson Mico Clava expressed relief with the news.
“Relieved din tayo dahil ang pinaka-punto natin na may ganung klaseng problema ay wala naman,” he said.
“We hope na patuloy ang reporma natin. Hindi tayo lilingon sa likod,” Clavano added.
In July, DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla claimed that there is a possibility of multiple mass graves within NBP.
He made the claim after a bone, which was first suspected to belong to missing inmate Michael Cataroja, was found inside a septic tank in NBP.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Medico Legal team then conducted forensic identification and revealed that the bones retrieved inside the septic tank were likely to be chicken bone and not human bone.
Cataroja is still alive and has been recaptured by authorities earlier this month.
