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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Human skull, other skeletal bones retrieved in Taal Lake – SOJ Remulla

Human skull, other skeletal bones retrieved in Taal Lake – SOJ Remulla

Published Jul 30, 2025 04:06 pm
A skull has been found among a set of human skeletal bones that were salvaged from Taal Lake in Batangas, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla said on Wednesday, July 30.
“May mga nahanap na labi kahapon. Nasa crime lab na. May kasamang bungo ng tao at mga buto (Human remains were found yesterday. It’s now with the crime laboratory. It includes a skull and bones),” Remulla told journalists.
He said the skull and the bones will undergo examinations that include DNA and dental analysis.
He also said the teeth remained intact so that DNA can be extracted.
At the same time, Remulla said the testimony of a witness, obviously referring to Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, is reliable. Patidongan had earlier said the bodies of the killed “sabungeros’ were dumped into Taal Lake.
However, Remulla admitted that it remains unclear if the set of bones recovered belongs to a missing “sabungero.”
“Marahil hindi lang krimen sa sabong. Sabi ko nga maaaring sa drug war, maaaring sa ibang krimen na involved ang death squad na ito na gumagawa ng trabaho (This might be a crime not involving cockfighting. As I have said this might be related to the extrajudicial killings during the drug war or other crimes involving the death squad doing the job),” he explained.
Meanwhile, Remulla said that complaints in the case of the missing “sabungeros” may be filed soon.
“Hinog na ang kaso (The case is ripe for filing),” he declared.
In the meantime, he said the investigators are already completing the affidavits or sworn statements so that complaints can be filed.
He also said he will ask the investigators to speed up their work since the crimes happened in 2020 or five years ago.
“Time will not wait. We have to do this immediately because time is passing,” he stressed.
Remulla said he is set to meet with the new witness in the “sabungeros’ case.
He said the new witness has been interviewed. Again, he did not disclose the name of the new witness nor the issues discussed during the interview.
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