MISSING SABUNGEROS
Human skull recovered from Taal Lake amidst missing ‘sabungeros’ search
Authorities on Tuesday retrieved a human skull and other bones from Taal Lake, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed on Wednesday. The discovery was made amid ongoing search and retrieval operations for dozens of missing “sabungeros” (cockfighting enthusiasts).
The Philippine Coast Guard located the skull, which included upper teeth, in an area previously identified by whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan. Patidongan had claimed that more than 100 abducted sabungeros were killed and their bodies dumped into Taal Lake.
Remulla emphasized that the discovery significantly adds to the credibility of Patidongan, who provided specific quadrants in the lake where remains might be found. “There was a human skull and bones with it… The teeth were there. I don’t know if the jaw was included, the lower jaw, but the upper teeth were included,” Remulla stated in an ambush interview.
The recovered bones have been turned over to the Philippine National Police (PNP) crime lab for examination. This latest recovery follows earlier findings of what are believed to be a human hip bone and human ribs during the ongoing search operations.
Justice Secretary Remulla also revealed the existence of a new witness in the case, who is expected to further bolster Patidongan’s testimony. This new witness is currently under police custody, and the Department of Justice is considering their inclusion in the Witness Protection Program, provided they qualify through the necessary legal processes, including being charged and then potentially discharged as a state witness.
When asked about reports of some families of the missing sabungeros allegedly being pressured to incriminate Patidongan, Remulla confirmed that this was precisely why he requested the relief of a service commander from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). He clarified that the commander’s removal was due to a “lack of trust” rather than direct involvement in the disappearances.
Remulla indicated that possible complaints related to the case are “ripe” for filing, with authorities still finalizing some details. He also speculated that the killings might not be solely due to e-sabong (online cockfighting) but could also be linked to the drug war or other criminal activities.
