A missing inmate who evaded police for a month showed how he escaped from jail - by clinging onto a truck's undercarriage.

Michael Cataroja, 26, was thrown into the New Bilibid Prison in Manila, the Philippines a year ago for violating the Anti-Fencing Law. He was sentenced to serve up to 20 years and was still awaiting trial for a separate car theft when he disappeared on July 15 this year, sparking a prison-wide search of the 11-hectare penitentiary.

Authorities later said they found 'human remains' inside a septic tank at the maximum security compound, which they believed to have belonged to the missing detainee.

However, officials had another shock when they received a tip from a villager this month that Michael, alive and well, was hiding in the Sitio Manggahan area of Angono Town in Rizal province.

Angono Municipal Police Station converged in the area on August 17 and re-arrested the fugitive, who had taken refuge in a relative's home. He was handed over to the Bureau of Corrections for remanding.

Lieutenant General Rhoderick Armamento, Commander of the Philippine National Police Southern Luzon Area Police Command, said in a statement on August 18: 'Today, I am pleased to announce the successful apprehension of a person deprived of liberty (PDL) who had previously gone missing from the New Bilibid Prison Maximum Security Compound.

'The diligent efforts of the Angono Municipal Police Station have culminated in the arrest of the fugitive, identified as Michael Angelo Cataroja y Laurel, a 26-year-old, male, resident of Sitio Minahan Bato, DOMSA, Brgy San Isidro, Angono, Rizal. This operation took place on August 17, 2023, at Sitio Manggahan, Barangay San Isidro, Angono, Rizal.'

Angono municipal police chief Major Lauro Moratillo said: 'The prisoner said he just casually walked out of maximum security because he went out with the visitors. He found one that is of the same height as him and he copied the visitor's stamp by using a ballpen.

'We have doubts about his story considering the heavy security in the prison. He had to go through many gates.'

During investigations, Michael demonstrated how he conducted the movie-like jailbreak. Footage shows the inmate cramming himself into a narrow space in the truck's undercarriage and holding onto the metal frame to steady himself.

Speaking to local media, Michael said: 'The sentence handed down was wrong. I was worried if I would be freed eventually. I don't know want to go back to Bilibid prison. I will die there. They are all angry with me there because I escaped without them.'

Philippine senators said they will now be probing security at the New Bilibid Prison following the prisoner's capture.

Senator Francis Tolentino said: 'The hearing of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights will now focus on how PDL Michael Cataroja escaped and the negligence of the Bureau of Corrections.'

A Board of Inquiry has also been created to investigate the jailbreak, Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said.