Human skull found from Taal Lake —DOJ's Remulla

Authorities retrieved a human skull from Taal Lake on Tuesday amid the search and retrieval operations for the missing sabungeros, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Wednesday.

“May kasamang bungo ng tao at mga buto,” Remulla said in an ambush interview.

(There was a human skull and some bones.)

“Nandoon ‘yung ngipin eh. May ngipin na kasama. Hindi ko alam kung kasama ‘yung panga, ‘yung lower jaw, pero ‘yung upper teeth kasama,” he later added.

(The teeth were there. There were teeth included. I don’t know if the jaw, the lower jaw, was included, but the upper teeth were there.)

According to Remulla, the bones were found in the area that was identified by whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, who told authorities that more than 100 sabungeros were abducted, killed, and then dumped at Taal Lake. 

“Sa pinaghahanapan din. ‘Yung quadrant na hinahanapan. Hindi pa naman sila lumalabas sa apat na quadrant na itinakda na hanapan ng labi,” he said.

(At the search site as well. The quadrant being searched. They haven’t gone beyond the four quadrants designated for searching for the remains.)

When asked about the importance of discovering the remains, the Justice secretary reiterated this adds to the credibility of their witness who claimed that remains of people who are killed are thrown into the area. 

Remulla said these people may have been killed not only due to e-sabong, but also the drug war or other crimes.

He said the bones are with the Philippine National Police crime lab for examination.

So far, among other alleged remains recovered during the search, authorities have retrieved what is believed to be a human hip bone and human ribs.

Remulla previously said there is also a new witness in the case who will bolster the credibility of Patidongan. He said that the witness is under the custody of the police.

“Meron na. Meron na siyang interviews na kina-conduct at ‘yung ibang staff ko kasama sa interview na kina-conduct,” he said.

(There are already some. He has already conducted interviews and some of my staff were included in the interviews conducted.)

He declined to divulge what the new witness said.

However, he said they are looking into the possibility of including the new witness to the Witness Protection Program.

“Malamang ganun din naman ang balak natin. Basta qualified pwede naman. Marami lang pagdadaanan na proseso. Kasi nga, syempre, kailangan i-charge muna. Pag i-charge mo, idi-discharge mo as state witness,” Remulla said.

(Most likely that’s also our plan. As long as they’re qualified, it’s possible. They’ll just have to go through many processes. Because, of course, they need to be charged first. When you charge them, you’ll discharge them as a state witness.)

He also said the possible complaints that they may file are already ripe but authorities are still ironing out some details. 

When asked about some families of the missing sabungeros allegedly being pressured to incriminate Patidongan, Remulla said this is the reason he asked for the relief of a service commander of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Remulla previously bared that he asked Philippine National Police chief Police General Nicolas Torre III to relieve a service commander from the investigation. 

He said the commander was not removed for supposed involvement in the disappearance of the sabungeros, but due to a lack of trust.

“Kaya nga sabi ko nga, kaya na-relieve ‘yung service director ng CIDG. ‘Yung sinasabi kong service director na hinihingi namin, ‘yun, tinanggal na ‘yung service director ng CIDG,” he said.

(That’s why I said, that’s why the service director of the CIDG was relieved. The service director I was referring to that we were requesting, yes, the service director of the CIDG was removed.)

“Isa ‘yan sa mga ulat sa amin na may mga kumilos na ganyan ang gustong mangyari,” he later added. 

(That’s one of the reports we received that there were people who acted in such a way because that’s what they wanted to happen.)

SONA

In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ferdinand  Marcos Jr. said the entire government is doing everything to solve the case of missing sabungeros, noting that even those with influence, who are allegedly involved in the crime, will never be above the law. 

This was echoed by Remulla when asked for his reaction to Marcos' speech during the 2025 Post-SONA Discussions. 

“‘Yung mga kwento po na ating nakuha, nakalap, dito sa pag iimbestiga ng mga nawawalang sabungero ay parang may presyo ang bawat buhay at kung kayang bayaran ang presyo, merong mag dedeliver,” he said.

(The stories we have gathered during the investigation of the missing cockfight enthusiasts suggest that each life has a price, and if the price can be paid, someone will deliver.)

“Eh, hindi po ito Grab, eh. Hindi po ito Lalamove. Ito po ay buhay ng tao na pinaguusapan natin kaya napakabigat. Syempre lahat po ‘yan may pamilya, kay kapatid, may asawa, may anak, may magulang,” he added.

(This isn’t Grab. This isn’t Lalamove. We’re talking about human lives here, that’s why it’s so serious. Of course, all of them have families, siblings, spouses, children, parents.)

Remulla stressed that justice should be exclusive to people who can pay.

He assured that the government is conducting a thorough investigation in the case of the missing sabungeros, adding that complaints may be filed against those responsible in the next weeks.

“Sa ilang linggo marahil ay ang mga kasong nararapat ay maisa-sampa na upang magkaroon ng closure at magkaroon ng katahimikan ang mga isip natin tungkol sa mga taong gumagawa ng ganitong karumaldumal na krimen,” he said.

(In a few weeks, the appropriate cases will probably be filed so that there can be closure and peace of mind about the people committing these heinous crimes.) — AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News