PCG prepares for missing sabungeros search in Taal Lake

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has brought the equipment that will be used for the search of the missing sabungeros, or cockfighting enthusiasts, in Talisay, Batangas early Thursday morning.

The assets were unloaded at a coast guard substation around 2 a.m. and transferred to a fishport, which will serve as the staging area, GMA Integrated News’ James Agustin reported on Unang Balita.

Among the sets of equipment that will be used for the search are diving suits and fins, oxygen tanks, cadaver bags, first aid kits, life rings, rigid hull inflatable boats, and rubber boats.

The start of the search will depend on the condition of the weather and water current.

According to authorities, the deepest part of Taal Lake is around 198 meters which is equivalent to a 60-storey building.

Officials from the Department of Justice, the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and the PCG are expected to arrive in the area. 

The officials are set to have a meeting before the start of the search.

Among the challenges the searchers may face are the possible bad weather and strong current as well as the threat of the low-level unrest of Taal Volcano.

Alert Level 1 is raised over Taal Volcano, which means the volcano is in an abnormal condition and should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity.

Under Alert Level 1, the possible hazards are sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas.

Authorities also implemented stricter security around the area.

A total of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts have been reported missing from 2021 to 2022. According to the police, the missing personalities were kidnapped allegedly due to match fixing or cheating in the cockfighting games.

Whistleblower and co-accused Julie “Dondon” Patidongan claimed that the victims were already buried in Taal Lake.

He named businessman Atong Ang as a mastermind in the case and also linked actress Gretchen Barretto to the disappearances. Both have denied the allegations. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News