DOJ: PCG divers find more sacks in Taal Lake amid search for sabungeros

Divers from the Philippine Coast Guard have found and are retrieving more sacks at the bottom of the Taal Lake, the Department of Justice said on Friday.

This developed after a sack containing what appeared to be burned human bones was recovered by authorities on Thursday.

The authorities are searching Taal Lake after whistleblower Julie "Dondon" Patidongan said the missing sabungeros – cockfighters who were abducted in 2021 to 2022 – were already dead.

He said their bodies were dumped into the lake on the days they were taken.

"Parang nasa lake bed sila, without really having good visibility at least meron silang na-feel sa baba. At doon nila nahanap itong mga sakong ito,” Clavano said of the sacks found on Friday.

(It’s like they’re on the lake bed, without really having good visibility, but at least they felt something at the bottom. And that’s where they found these sacks.)

Clavano said that prosecutors and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation were sent to witness the retrieval operations.

According to Raffy Tima’s report on "24 Oras," two more sacks were retrieved from the operations and were immediately turned over to the officers of the Philippine National Police’s Scene of the Crime Operatives. 

Authorities did not confirm what was inside the sacks, but they were sealed inside cadaver bags, the television report added. 

According to Clavano, once the sacks are retrieved, authorities must first certify their contents.

“We still don’t know what the contents of those sacks are. Very possible din po na ang laman noon ay hindi buto, but we are hoping for the best. Of course, ayaw natin i-sobrang taas yung expectations natin but the PCG is doing their very best,” Clavano said.

(Very possible as well that the contents are not bones, but we are hoping for the best. Of course, we don’t want to raise our expectations too high, but the PCG is doing their very best.)

He said remotely operated vehicles or ROVs from the PCG may soon be deployed to help with the search. 

As reported in “24 Oras,” the kin of some of the missing sabungeros lighted candles at the shore while witnessing the retrieval operations. 

“It’s a mixed emotion–excited at the same time nalulungkot, mayroong kaba. Pero ganun pa man, we are very happy, at least, finally, lahat ng sinasabi ni Dondon Patidongan ay totoo,” said Sherlyn Lasco, whose sibling was missing. 

(It’s a mixed emotion–I’m excited but I’m also feeling sad and nervous. Despite that, we are very happy because at least, everything that Dondon Patidongan has said has been proven true.) 

The DOJ has said that it seeks to confirm whether the remains are human through forensic examination and to conduct DNA testing to determine if there is a match with the families of the missing sabungeros.

Meanwhile, Clavano said that DNA samples have been taken from some families.

“The DNA matching is actually underway. Kumbaga ang gagawin po natin, kukunan natin ng DNA samples ang mga kamag anak ng mga nawawala at ima-match ho natin yan sa mga DNA na makikita natin sa mahanap natin kung sakali,” Clavano said.

(The DNA matching is underway. What we will do is collect DNA samples from the relatives of the missing individuals and match them with the DNA we may find in whatever we recover, if ever.)

“Kahapon, as we were there in Taal Lake, there were already some families who subjected themselves to DNA testing,” he added.

(Yesterday, as we were there in Taal Lake, there were already some families who subjected themselves to DNA testing.)

Clavano also appealed for the families’ continued patience.

“Let’s just stay patient. We are doing everything that we can to retrieve what is there, and we hope for the best results.  –NB, GMA Integrated News