Philippines’ largest prison holds mass burial for 70 inmates after 176 bodies found
- A total of 176 corpses were found during an investigation into the death of an inmate accused of involvement in killing a journalist
- Bodies began piling up in the funeral home in December 2021 after their families – most of them poor – did not claim them
The bodies of 70 inmates from the Philippines’ largest prison were laid to rest on Friday in a mass burial, weeks after their decomposing remains were discovered in a Manila funeral home.
They were among 176 corpses found by police during an investigation into the death of an inmate, who was accused of being involved in the killing of a journalist in early October.
Most of the deaths were due to “natural causes”, said Cecilia Villanueva, the Bureau of Corrections’ acting director for health and welfare services.
Among them was a Japanese national.
Villanueva said 127 of the 140 bodies buried so far were badly decomposed and could not be autopsied again.
The bodies began piling up in the funeral home in December 2021 after their families – most of them poor – did not claim them.