Government Vows No Cover-Up in Taal Sabungeros Case
Malacañang assured the public on Friday that there will be no cover-up in the government’s investigation into the disappearance of sabungeros in Taal Lake. This promise comes amid the recent discovery of suspected human remains in the area where the missing cockfighting enthusiasts were believed to have been dumped.
Authorities, including the Philippine Coast Guard, found a sack containing what appeared to be human bones at the bottom of Taal Lake in Batangas. This area is reportedly linked to the missing sabungeros from 2021 to 2022. Local officials and law enforcement are intensifying their efforts to uncover the truth behind the case of the missing sabungeros.
President Marcos Orders Thorough Probe
Palace spokesperson Claire Castro emphasized that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is determined to confirm if the remains are connected to the missing sabungeros case. “For President (Ferdinand Marcos Jr.), it is really necessary to further determine whether the items found are truly related to the case of the missing cockfight enthusiasts,” Castro said during a press briefing.
She added, “This will not be neglected, there will be no cover-up, and the investigation will continue — that is what the President wants.” The government’s commitment to transparency and justice remains firm despite the sensitivity of the case.
Search Triggered by Suspect’s Confession
The search for the missing sabungeros intensified following the confession of a suspect, Julie “Dondon” Patidongan. He admitted that the abducted sabungeros were killed, their bodies tied to sandbags, and dumped into Taal Lake to prevent their remains from resurfacing.
On the eve of the search operation, authorities retrieved a white sack from the lakebed containing what appeared to be burned human bones. The Department of Justice confirmed the finding, stating, “This was during what was only supposed to be a preliminary inspection. However, a white sack was visibly identified and recovered from the lakebed.”
Forensic Analysis Underway
The recovered bones are now undergoing forensic examination by either the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group or the National Bureau of Investigation. This step aims to verify if the remains are indeed human and linked to the missing sabungeros.
During a briefing on July 3, Castro reiterated that President Marcos will not show favoritism in the case, regardless of the political or social standing of the accused. Justice will be served impartially.
Members of the Philippine Coast Guard continue to search the waters of Taal Lake near Talisay town in Batangas, determined to find closure for the families of the missing sabungeros.
For more news and updates on the missing sabungeros case, visit Filipinokami.com.