MISSING SABUNGEROS

Taal Volcano experienced a minor phreatomagmatic eruption on Thursday afternoon, July 17, occurring concurrently with significant developments in the government’s search for missing cockfighting aficionados, as authorities confirmed the recovery of more human remains from Taal Lake.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that the phreatomagmatic event at the Taal Main Crater lasted approximately 12 minutes, from 3:01 p.m. to 3:13 p.m. It generated a greyish-white plume that rose 2,400 meters (2.4 km) above the crater and drifted southeast. Phivolcs Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division Chief Ma. Antonia Bornas assured that the eruption would not affect the ongoing Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) search operations in Taal Lake, as the plume’s drift was opposite to the retrieval operations’ northwest location. A phreatomagmatic eruption, more explosive than steam-driven phreatic eruptions, occurs when hot magma interacts with water, ejecting juvenile clasts and lava particles. Taal Volcano remains at Alert Level 1 (low-level unrest), with state volcanologists having previously warned of potential unrest due to heightened seismic activity.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed the recovery of two more sacks containing human remains from Taal Lake on Thursday. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla stated that human ribs were found inside these sacks, alongside two other sacks containing sand that served as weights. This discovery, made in a specific quadrant of Taal Lake, significantly bolsters the narration of whistleblower Julie Patidongan, who reportedly identified boatmen who pointed to the area.

This latest recovery follows the PCG’s previous retrieval of five sacks from Taal Lake, which contained a mix of human and animal bones. The Philippine National Police’s Forensic Group (PNP FG) had confirmed that six of the 91 bone fragments retrieved from those initial sacks were human.

In a related development, Remulla also provided an update on three bodies recently exhumed from a public cemetery in Laurel, Batangas, believed to be victims buried in 2020 after being found floating from Taal Lake and remaining unclaimed. He noted that two of these exhumed remains showed signs of being female, with one wearing female underwear, and another a basketball jersey. Remulla indicated information about a potentially abducted pregnant woman in Lipa was among Patidongan’s statements, suggesting a link to these earlier-buried remains. Despite being from 2020, Remulla asserted their circumstances were still related to “e-sabong.”

The broader case of the missing “sabungeros” involves 34 cockfighting enthusiasts who disappeared between 2021 and 2022. Whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan has claimed gaming tycoon Atong Ang was the mastermind behind their alleged abduction and killing for match-fixing or cheating.

While the search operations continue, Remulla confirmed that diving operations in Taal Lake would be temporarily suspended based on Phivolcs’ advice to ensure the safety of personnel due to the volcano’s activity.