Possibility of Bones Recovery from Taal Lake
MANILA, Philippines — The opportunity to recover bones from missing sabungeros in Taal Lake remains viable if their remains were truly buried there, according to Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum. Speaking at a news forum in Quezon City, he emphasized that the bones’ preservation depends largely on environmental factors.
“Bone does not decompose,” Solidum stated plainly. “Bone does not care about decomposition. It is only the flesh that rots,” he added, underscoring the resilience of bones compared to soft tissue. These insights affirm that the search for the missing sabungeros’ remains could yield results, especially if the bones lie undisturbed in the lake.
Understanding Decomposition in Taal Lake’s Environment
Secretary Solidum explained that the rate at which bodies decompose depends heavily on their burial location, depth, and the lake’s oxidizing properties. “Because people decompose, they oxidize. Like leaves, when there is oxygen, they decompose easily. But when the oxygen is depleted at the bottom, they don’t decompose very much,” he said.
This means that in a reducing environment, where oxygen is scarce, decomposition slows significantly. “That means there is not much oxygen,” Solidum clarified. “So we don’t know; if the buried material is shallow, maybe the conditions there are easy to decompose.”
He further illustrated this with the phenomenon of fish kills in Taal Lake, which occur when oxygen levels drop due to organic matter decomposing at the bottom, creating a reducing environment. “It is difficult to decompose in such conditions,” he added, highlighting how the lake’s environment affects preservation.
Factors Affecting Decomposition Rate
Organic matter like leaves and feed that sink to the lake’s bottom consumes oxygen, intensifying the reducing environment. This lack of oxygen hinders decay, potentially preserving bones longer. “So if that’s the condition there, at the very bottom, if it goes there, it will be a reducing environment; it is difficult to decompose. So it depends on the location,” Solidum concluded.
Official Efforts and Whistleblower Revelations
Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla recently announced he has requested technical assistance from Japan to aid in locating the bodies of the missing sabungeros in Taal Lake. This development follows revelations from whistleblower Julie Dondon Aguilar Patidongan, known as “Totoy,” who claimed the sabungeros were killed and their bodies dumped into the lake three years ago.
The whistleblower also implicated businessman Atong Ang and actress Gretchen Barretto in the disappearances, accusations that stirred significant public attention. Local authorities continue to investigate these serious claims while pursuing efforts to recover the missing individuals.
For more news and updates on bones recovery from Taal Lake, visit Filipinokami.com.