DNA profiles extracted from remains exhumed in Batangas cemetery

Three DNA profiles have been extracted from the remains that were recovered in a cemetery in Laurel, Batangas amid the continuing search for missing sabungeros or cockfight enthusiasts, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday.

In a press conference, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said two of the DNA profiles are for males while the remaining one is for a female.

"'Yung tatlong cadaver na na-recover sa sementeryo sa Batangas, tatlong DNA profiles po ang nakuha po doon. Dalawa, lalaki po, at isang babae po," Fajardo said.

(Of the three cadavers recovered from the cemetery in Batangas, three DNA profiles were obtained: two males and one female.)

A manager of a funeral parlor in Laurel town earlier told GMA Integrated News that bodies recovered from the public cemetery bore gunshot wounds to the head. 

Upon examination, however, the three DNA samples did not match with any of the 23 samples from the family members of some missing sabungeros.

Fajardo called on other family members who have yet to provide DNA samples to come forward and cooperate with the authorities.

"Gusto ko rin po kunin ang pagkakataon na ito baka mayroon pa po dyan na makakapanood po nito na may mga kaanak doon sa mga missing sabungeros," Fajardo said.

(I also want to take this opportunity to reach out if there are any relatives of the missing sabungeros who are able to watch this.)

"Sinasabi naman po natin 'yung condition and status na mga nakuha po nating suot ng mga posibleng mga biktima, kung makikita po nila 'yan they can immediately coordinate with us para madala po natin sila sa forensic group at makuha ng DNA," she added.

(We report the condition and status of the clothes that we found on the possible victims. The family members can immediately coordinate with us so we can bring them to the PNP forensic group and get their DNA.)

Fajardo said no DNA profiles were extracted from the bones recovered from Taal Lake because the remains have been submerged for a long time and already contaminated.

A total of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts have been reported missing from 2021 to 2022. 

However, Julie "Dondon" Patidongan, one of the accused in the case, previously claimed that more than 100 sabungeros were abducted, killed, and dumped at Taal Lake. 

According to the police, the missing personalities were kidnapped allegedly due to match fixing or cheating in the cockfighting games.

Patidongan named businessman Atong Ang as a mastermind in the case and linked actress Gretchen Barretto to the disappearances. Both have denied the allegations. — VDV, GMA Integrated News