President Marcos assured justice for the families of the missing cockfight enthusiasts, or sabungeros, promising that perpetrators will face the full extent of the law regardless of their positions in society.

During his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa on Monday, July 28, the President underscored that peace and order in the country is the foundation of his “Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines).”

“Nagtutulungan ang buong pamahalaan para lutasin ang mga kaso ng mga nawawala dahil sa walang pakundangang kagagawan ng mga sindikato sa likod ng madilim na mundo ng mga sabungan (The whole of government is cooperating to solve the cases of the missing cockfight enthusiasts done by syndicates in the dark world of cockfighting),” he said.

“Hahabulin at pananagutin natin ang mga utak at mga sangkot, sibilyan man o opisyal (We will run after and held accountable those behind these crimes, may they be civilians or officials),” Marcos added as the audience cheered and applauded. “Kahit malakas, mabigat, o mayaman, hindi sila mangi-ngibabaw sa batas (Whether they are influential or rich, they will not be above the law).”

Whistleblower Julie Patidongan, alias "Totoy," one of six security guards accused of abducting the cockfighting enthusiasts, claimed that some of the missing sabungeros were executed and dumped in Taal Lake, which has now become the site of an operation to find their remains.

Several sacks containing alleged human remains have so far been retrieved from the lake.

Businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and actress Gretchen Barretto have been implicated in the crime.

Meanwhile, Marcos also hailed that halfway through his term, his administration’s haul of about P83 billion worth of illegal drugs has almost equaled the drug operations of the past administration.

“Sa kabila ng mga ito, tila nagbabalikan daw ang mga pusher. Kaya, patuloy ang ating mga operasyon laban sa mga drug dealer, big-time man o small-time (Despite this, pushers have been apparently reappearing. That’s why, we will continue our operations against drug dealers, may they be big-time or small-time),” he said.

The President lamented that recent operations resulted in the apprehension of more than 677 government officials—more than 100 elected officials and more than 50 policemen— of the 153,000 suspects in drug-related cases. Of this number, more than 9,600 were considered “high-value targets.”

Marcos said that the key to the country’s progress lies on its peace and security.

“Patuloy tayo sa pagpapatibay ng ating Kapulisan at Sandatahang Lakas. Ang mga armamento, sasakyang pandigma, at sandata ng ating Kapulisan at Sandatahang Lakas ay patuloy na nadaragdagan, angkop sa layuning modernisasyon at komprehensibong pagtatanggol ng ating mga kapuluan (We will continue to strengthen our police and armed forces. We will continue to add to the armament, military vehicles, and weapons of our police and armed forces, aligned with the modernization and comprehensive defense plans for our country),” he added.