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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Search for missing sabungeros' remains makes major breakthrough with discovery of sack filled with 'blackened remains'

Search for missing sabungeros' remains makes major breakthrough with discovery of sack filled with 'blackened remains'

Published Jul 10, 2025 08:21 pm
An inter-agency search and retrieval operation is conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), and Department of Justice (DOJ) at the Taal Lake in Talisay, Batangas on July 10, 2025 to locate the remains of 34 missing sabungeros believed to have been killed and dumped in the lake. (Santi San Juan / MANILA BULLETIN)
An inter-agency search and retrieval operation is conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), and Department of Justice (DOJ) at the Taal Lake in Talisay, Batangas on July 10, 2025 to locate the remains of 34 missing sabungeros believed to have been killed and dumped in the lake. (Santi San Juan / MANILA BULLETIN)
The initial search and retrieval operation for the remains of 34 missing cockfighters (sabungeros) at Taal Lake in Batangas made its first major breakthrough on Thursday, July 10, when authorities discovered a sack filled with blackened remains believed to be bones.
Police Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, regional director of the Calabarzon Police Regional Office (PRO-4A), said the sack contained “blackened and irregularly shaped” materials although he could not immediately determine if they were bones of human beings or animals.
The sack was found 10 meters from the shoreline of Taal Lake, where whistleblower Julie “Totoy/Dondon” Patidongan claimed was the dumpsite of the missing sabungeros’ remains who had already been allegedly killed.
The sack and its contents were turned over by the PNP, Department of Justice (DOJ), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to the PRO-4A Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) for forensic examination.
Meanwhile, the PCG said it would commence technical dive operations on Friday in five “staging areas” in Batangas: Talisay, Laurel, San Nicolas, Balete, and San Agoncillo.
The five areas are where the PCG has established its coast guard sub-stations surrounding the Taal Lake.
“So, these staging areas are just to position the equipment na gagamitin natin para mas safe 'yung mobilization, and 'yung accessibility ng mga equipment na gagamitin natin kasi it would take time kung lilipat pa tayo ng ibang equipment (So, these staging areas are just for positioning the equipment we will use to make mobilization safer, and to ensure the accessibility of the equipment we’ll be using because it would take time if we still had to transfer other equipment),” said PCG spokesperson Captain Noemie Cayabyab.
Among the challenges being faced by the PCG divers were the rough sea conditions, the Alert Level 1 raised on Taal Volcano due to signs of volcanic unrest, and the sheer size of Taal Lake, which spans 234 square kilometers and has a depth of 198 meters.
The divers were also informed of the risks that they had to face as the arsenic levels in Taal Lake have been found to be elevated in certain areas, particularly following the 2020 eruption.
Medical experts said that exposure to high levels of arsenic-contaminated water can lead to serious health risks such as gastrointestinal symptoms, skin irritation, respiratory issues, cardiovascular problems, or in more severe cases, death.

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