More bones retrieved from Taal Lake — Remulla

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has said that more bones were recovered from the Taal Lake amid the search for the missing sabungeros, according to a report on Unang Balita on Tuesday.

The bones were reportedly recovered Thursday last week.

He said that the government is coordinating with the University of the Philippines and experts from Japan to examine the bones.

“In some ways, ‘yung natural condition ng lake helps us with the preservation of the remains. Kasi nga hindi inaabot ng sunlight ‘yung ilalim. Very dark ‘yan eh. So that causes the deterioration of any DNA-encrusted matter,” he said.

(In some ways, the natural condition of the lake helps us with the preservation of the remains. Because the sunlight doesn’t reach the bottom, it’s very dark there, so that slows down the deterioration of any DNA-encrusted matter.)

“Makikita niyo talaga, meron pang laman-laman na nakukuha sa ibang mga buto na lumalabas. Ibig sabihin, mas mabagal ang detoriation ng remains sa ilalim ng lawa,” he added.

(You can really see that there’s still some flesh that can be found in some of the bones. This means the deterioration of the remains at the bottom of the lake is slower.)

The Taal Lake search began after whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan claimed that more than 100 sabungeros were abducted, killed, and then dumped at Taal Lake.

Authorities have recovered a human skull, what is believed to be a human hip bone, and human ribs.

The Department of Justice previously said that from July to August, authorities recovered  401pieces of skeletal remains from the Taal Lake. –Joahna Lei Casilao/ VAL, GMA Integrated News