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Taal Lake horror: claims of 100 men drowned in murder plot turn Philippines fishing haven into crime scene

Taal Lake horror: claims of 100 men drowned in murder plot turn Philippines fishing haven into crime scene

Time of India3 days ago
Taal Lake, the serene volcanic body of water south of Manila, is now the unlikely center of one of the Philippines' most disturbing murder mysteries.
Whistle-blower Julie 'Dondon' Patidongan has claimed that as many as 100 men were murdered, their bodies strangled, stuffed in sacks, and dumped into the lake's depths, a chilling allegation that has gripped the nation and cast a shadow over the local fishing community.
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Cockfighting, Filipino gambling tycoon exposed after 100 human-bones found under lake
Patidongan's accusations, aimed at police allegedly working under gambling tycoon Charlie 'Atong' Ang, allege that dozens of missing sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts) were systematically killed and hidden beneath the volcanic waters near Laurel, Batangas.
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GPS view of Taal Lake's location in The Philippines.
Since July 10, the Philippine Coast Guard has been pulling up sacks of 'suspicious objects' from the depths, using divers and submersible technology to scour the lake floor.
Already, investigators have recovered bones they believe to be human, though critics online have accused authorities of planting evidence, using the sarcastic term 'tanim buto' or 'planted bones.'
Despite the skepticism, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla insists the remains are genuine and says the investigation will continue despite dangerous conditions, including a volcanic eruption and Typhoon Wipha disrupting search efforts.
Agencies
Philippine police carry a sack believed to contain human remains after it was retrieved from Taal Lake near Laurel municipality, Batangas province, on Thursday. Photo: AFP
Fish catch affected amid 'human-bone' controversy
The lake itself, known for its prized tawilis sardines, has become a symbol of suspicion.
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As divers retrieve sacks believed to contain evidence of cold-blooded killings, demand for fish has plummeted, devastating local livelihoods and sparking fears of a 'state of calamity.'
Authorities confirm that six of the 91 bones recovered so far appear human, a small number, but enough to keep forensic teams combing through evidence.
Agencies
Philippine coastguard officials show a map of their search and retrieval operations in Taal Lake on July 10. Photo: AFP
Forensic experts stress that even a single bone confirms the lake holds more than anchors and fishing weights.
15 cops to bring about justice in 60 days, claims, official
For local officials like Rafael Vicente Calinisan of Napolcom, whose family comes from the very area implicated, the case is personal. He's vowed swift justice within 60 days, with at least 15 police officers already under investigation.
The case also dredges up painful memories of the extrajudicial killings during former President Duterte's drug war, fueling further outrage.
Yet not everyone is convinced. Some officials, including Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto, have made public shows of eating local fish to calm fears.
— ralph_calinisan (@ralph_calinisan)
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Still, trust, like the lake's dark waters, remains murky. Until the investigation is complete, Taal Lake stands as both a crime scene and a symbol of how far the truth might be buried beneath the surface.
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Trump vs Columbia: Ivy league school to pay $200 million in landmark settlement; campus protests curbed
Trump vs Columbia: Ivy league school to pay $200 million in landmark settlement; campus protests curbed

Time of India

time23 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Trump vs Columbia: Ivy league school to pay $200 million in landmark settlement; campus protests curbed

Columbia University will now be paying more than $220 million along with making major policy changes as part of a settlement with the Trump administration. The deal follows allegations of civil rights violations and claims the university failed to protect Jewish students from discrimination, as reported exclusively by the New York Post. The Ivy League university will also be subjected to federal oversight, with independent monitoring in place to ensure it adheres to merit-based admissions and hiring processes. The agreement follows four months of negotiations and comes amid mounting pressure on elite universities like Harvard, which has taken the administration to court over the loss of $2.6 billion in funding linked to similar issues. As part of the settlement, Columbia will pay $200 million to the federal government to resolve discrimination claims and a further $20 million to Jewish staff who were reportedly targeted during anti-semitic protests on campus in the wake of the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. The Trump administration is touting the payout as the largest of its kind in nearly two decades under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. As per a source cited by the New York Post, when the government pulled $400 million from Columbia in March, it put billions more in research and other funding at risk. The deal mandates that Columbia dismantle any programmes that discriminate based on race, bringing it in line with the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling that banned race-based affirmative action. 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Murder in Civil Lines: Man slits mother-in-law's throat over unpaid Rs 5L Loan
Murder in Civil Lines: Man slits mother-in-law's throat over unpaid Rs 5L Loan

Time of India

time29 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Murder in Civil Lines: Man slits mother-in-law's throat over unpaid Rs 5L Loan

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Elderly bizman, wife lose 40L in 4-day digital arrest in Ajmer
Elderly bizman, wife lose 40L in 4-day digital arrest in Ajmer

Time of India

time43 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Elderly bizman, wife lose 40L in 4-day digital arrest in Ajmer

Ajmer: A businessman and his wife were allegedly digitally arrested for four days in Ajmer and duped of Rs 40 lakh by a cybercriminal posing as policeman from Colaba police station in Mumbai. He charged the couple with serious offences of money laundering, drug trafficking and managed to defraud them. The couple, identified as Elvis Michal (59) and his wife Peggy Michal (57), residents of Saraswati Nagar, Dholabhata, registered a case Wednesday. According to police, the couple in the complaint said they received a video call on July 15. The call came on Peggy's mobile, and the caller, dressed in a police uniform, introduced himself as an officer from the Colaba police station in Mumbai. He claimed that a serious investigation has started against them and instructed them to cooperate, contact no one, and not leave their home until the exercise is over, they stated in the complaint. The couple received another call from a different number, with the caller introducing himself as an officer from the cybercrime wing and the national crime records bureau, and claiming they were investigating a money laundering crime. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pirates Climb Aboard Cargo Ship - Watch What The Captain Did Next Tips and Tricks Undo The caller asked questions and later told them to deposit Rs 14 lakh online for a land purchase to save themselves. He also demanded information about their fixed deposits. On July 18, the callers contacted the couple again, asking them to transfer the fixed deposit money of Rs 26 lakh to the number they provided. In total, Rs 40 lakh were transferred from the couple's account. "We were threatened if we did not cooperate during the investigation, the Mumbai police would come and arrest us as they had a lot of evidence against us," said the complaint. On July 23, after speaking to acquaintances, the couple went to the police station and filed an FIR. ASI of the cyber police station, Chotu Singh, said, "We have registered a case. Primarily, this is an organised crime, which is under investigation. We have taken the account numbers to which the money was transferred and also the mobile numbers. We appeal to people to remain alert against such callers."

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