More possible human remains, personal belongings retrieved in Taal sabungero search

More "possible human remains" and personal belongings have been recovered from the Taal Lake amid the search for the missing sabungeros or cockfighting enthusiasts who disappeared from 2020 to 2021 and who are believed to have been killed.

PNO spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said the likely remains will undergo tests. As regards the personal effects, Fajardo urged the families of the victims to see if they belonged to their missing loved ones.

“Based sa mga na-recover na panibagong mga possible human remains at again it will be subjected sa tests to determine whether or not itong mga nakuha lately for last two days na mga buto ay galing sa tao,” Fajardo said. 

(The newly retrieved possible human remains will again be subjected to tests to determine whether or not these bones recovered recently for the last two days are from humans.)

“Ganun din ang gagawin nating proseso ay i-cross match sa mga kaanak ng mga missing sabungeros na nagbigay ng kanilang DNA profile,” he added.

(We will also do the same process, cross-matching with the relatives of the missing sabungeros who provided their DNA profiles.)

Aside from the bones, personal belongings like clothes, shoes, and a cap were also retrieved from the lake. 

Fajardo encouraged those who have missing relatives to coordinate with the police to check if these items belonged to their loved ones. 

“Importante din na makipag-ugnayan sila sa atin para ma-identify nila. Kasi kung ako naman yung isang kaanak, kapatid ko, asawa ko, na familiar sa akin itong kasuotan na ito at nawawala ay pupuwede silang magbigay voluntarily ng kanilang DNA para mai-crossmatch,” Fajardo said.

(It's also important that they contact us so they can identify it. Because if I'm the one who is familiar with this clothing, my sister, my husband, and they are missing, they can voluntarily provide their DNA for cross-matching.)

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 one of the 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. –NB, GMA Integrated News