Justice Secretary Considers Technical Divers for Sabungeros Investigation
MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has suggested deploying technical divers to confirm reports that 34 missing sabungeros, or cockfighting enthusiasts, might already be deceased and disposed of in Taal Lake, Batangas. This idea comes amid ongoing efforts to uncover the truth behind their disappearance.
Remulla raised the possibility after a security guard implicated in the alleged abduction of the sabungeros disclosed new information about their whereabouts. The Justice Secretary emphasized the need for specialized divers due to the depth and difficulty of searching Taal Lake.
Technical Divers Needed for Deep Lake Search
“Maybe a technical diver is really needed there, to determine the veracity of the information,” Remulla said in Filipino during an impromptu interview with reporters. He added, “We will need technical divers to do it, because it’s deep, and it’s not easy to go into a lake to look for human remains.”
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is committed to exhausting all efforts to locate any remains as the investigation continues to develop. Remulla acknowledged that the possibility of the missing sabungeros being dead is credible, given the absence of any trace.
Ongoing Investigation and Coordination with Authorities
“Because there is no trace. When you vanish without a trace, it must be somewhere where people have not been able to look. Maybe the place will not be looked at again,” Remulla explained, mixing Filipino and English. He affirmed that the DOJ is reviewing all leads in collaboration with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
The Justice Secretary also plans to meet with the whistleblower to verify the details provided. “We have to be responsible enough to seek the truth, especially in cases like this,” he stressed.
This development follows the request to the courts to rearrest individuals involved in the sabungeros’ disappearance. Meanwhile, the Court of Appeals has upheld the no-bail ruling on six persons linked to the case.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are determined to apply all necessary resources, including technical divers, to uncover the fate of the missing sabungeros and bring justice to the affected families.
For more news and updates on missing sabungeros, visit Filipinokami.com.