Human skull found in Taal Lake during search for missing sabungeros (cockfight enthusiasts). Justice Sec. Remulla announced discovery of skull with upper teeth.
Remulla hopes there’s enough DNA in the remains to identify the individual. He stated that this discovery supports a witness’s claim that the bodies of murdered were dumped in the lake.
Whistleblower Julie Patidongan has alleged that over 100 cockfight enthusiasts were killed and buried in Taal Lake. Authorities have been actively searching for 34 missing sabungeros since 2021.
Secretary Remulla suggested that Taal Lake might have been used as a dumping ground during the previous administration’s war on drugs. He also hinted that suspects in the sabungeros’ disappearance could be involved in drug war killings. Investigators are currently finalizing affidavits, and charges are expected to be filed soon.
More than half of the 12 police officers facing charges in the missing sabungeros’ case have had prior administrative complaints, according to the police Internal Affairs Service (IAS). However, IAS Inspector General Brigido Dulay clarified that they are still determining if these past cases are connected to the current disappearances. He expressed doubt that the resolved cases are directly related to the sabungeros’ case given their volume and context.
These 12 police officers are facing administrative charges from the National Police Commission for the alleged kidnapping and disappearance of the sabungeros.
Dulay also cautioned against relying solely on extrajudicial statements like Patidongan’s, emphasizing that statements not made under oath carry less weight.
Meanwhile, Secretary Remulla recently announced that a new witness is expected to come forward to support Patidongan’s claims and bolster her credibility.
