Fishermen, tourism in Laurel, Batangas affected by search for missing sabungeros

Residents of Laurel, Batangas said that the search and retrieval operations for the missing sabungeros in Taal Lake had negatively impacted their fishing and tourism industries.

In a ''24 Oras Weekend'' report by Raffy Tima on Saturday, Laurel, Batangas Mayor Lyndon Bruce said that fishermen have been casting their nets less frequently since there is less demand for their catch.

“Base sa report ng ating fish port office, before nagkakaroon tayo ng 10 na bankang pumapalaot. Ngayon dalawa na lang kada araw, dahil nang walang masyadong order na dinadala sa market sa Manila,” Bruce said.

(Based on reports from our fish port office, we previously had 10 boats going out to sea. Now, there are only two per day, as there aren't many orders brought to markets in Manila.)

He added that there were also fewer tourists in the area.

Still, Bruce said that the local government was willing to assist the national government in the search and retrieval operations.

“Kung ano po yung kailangan nila, nakakapag-provide… Tulad nga po ng mga bankang malalaki, tumawag sila kahapon at kailangan nila. Kami naman po ay willing na nakikipag-cooperate sa kanila,” he said.

(Whatever they needed, we were able to provide... Like the big boats, they called yesterday because they needed them. We are willing to cooperate with them.)

On the third day of the search and retrieval operations, Philippine Coast Guard divers retrieved two more sacks that may contain human remains.

Taal Lake is being searched for bodies of the missing sabungeros, who were abducted from 2021 to 2022, after whistleblower Julie "Dondon" Patidongan stated that the cockfight enthusiasts were already dead and dumped in the lake. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News