Taal Lake search for missing sabungeros resumes; local fishers take hit
According to Vonne Aquino's '24 Oras' report, PCG technical divers continued with the operations early Sunday but were forced to halt due to sudden downpour. They used a remotely-operating vehicle and an aerial drone to further inspect the search area but yielded no suspicious objects.
The local government of Agoncillo, Batangas said the discovery of human remains in the lake—after whistleblower Julie "Dondon" Patidongan pointed to it as the site where the missing sabungeros' bodies were dumped—is affecting the small-scale fisherfolk in the municipality, with public fear driving down demand for tawilis.
'Halos 40% ang binaba ng harvest ng tawilis. Kung konti ang demand, konti rin ang magiging supply,' said Mayor Cinderella Reyes.
(The harvest went down by almost 40%. If there is less supply, then there is less demand.)
In the town of Talisay, Batangas, fewer fish vendors are selling tawilis, increasing the prices from P80 per kilo to P100 per kilo. Municipal administrator Alfredo Anciato said they are mulling declaring a state of calamity to extend assistance to the affected fishers.
'Sa ngayon, kinukuha namin ang lahat ng data through our municipal agriculture office. Tinatanong namin ang stakeholders kung ano ang epekto sa aming maliliit na mangingisda,' Anciato added.
(We are now gathering all data through our municipal agriculture office. We are also asking our stakeholders of the effect to the fisherfolks.)
Batangas Governor Vilma Santos, for her part, took to social media to allay fears and to show the public it is safe to consume tawilis.
'Tawilis. Okay. Nothing to worry. With all these issues about our Taal, nothing to worry. Ang Tawilis ay non-carnivorous. Di kumakain ng laman, usually halaman ang kinakain nito,' said Santos.
(Nothing to worry. With all these issues about our Taal, nothing to worry. Tawilis are non-carnivorous and they eat plants.)
Meanwhile, the Agoncillo municipal government said it is also eyeing the declaration of a state of calamity to repair roads affected by the recent typhoons. — Sundy Locus/BM, GMA Integrated News
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
2 hours ago
- GMA Network
NAPOLCOM finds probable cause vs. 12 cops in missing sabungeros case
The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) found probable cause against the 12 cops who are accused of being involved in the case of the missing sabungeros, according to Allan Gatus' report on Super Radyo dzBB. Among the 12 cops are three officials and nine non-commissioned officers. Due to the finding, the administrative case will now continue against the cops, who may face removal from service. Based on the report, NAPOLCOM Investigation and Monitoring director Edman Pares said the finding is based on the affidavit of whistleblower Julie 'Dondon' Patidongan. Patidongan and the families of the missing sabungeros filed their complaint last week. FLASH REPORT: National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), nakakita ng probable cause sa inihain na reklamo laban sa 12 pulis na isinasangkot sa 'missing sabungeros.' | via @allangatus — DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 29, 2025 SONA Meanwhile, NAPOLCOM vice chairperson and executive officer Atty. Rafael Calinisan said that two groups approached him to settle the case of the missing sabungeros. This was reportedly before Patidongan and the families filed their complaint. Based on the report, Calinisan also said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s push for accountability in his fourth State of the Nation Address was a great help to the finding. Marcos previously said the entire government is doing everything to solve the case of missing sabungeros, noting that even those with influence, who are allegedly involved in the crime, will never be above the law. —Joahna Lei Casilao/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
6 days ago
- GMA Network
2 missing fishermen found dead in waters of Sibunag, Guimaras
The bodies of two fisherman in the Province of Guimaras earlier reported missing were retrieved on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. The two fishermen were earlier reported missing off the coast of Barangay Sebaste, Sibunag town, Guimaras. Personnel from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) WASAR Team retrieved the body of a certain Vincent Paul Valles at 7:43 a.m. between Inampulugan and Natunga Islands in Sibunag a day after the incident was reported. This report is based on a post on Province of Guimaras' official social media page. The operation was conducted in coordination with the Provincial Government of Guimaras, Philippine Coast Guard, Sibunag Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and other partner agencies. Valles' companion, a certain Ryan Galfo, was found at about 11 a.m. on the same site. 'Initial reports from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Sibunag state that on July 21, 2025, four fishermen set out aboard a fishing boat named Jen-Jen and Rowen. Due to rough sea conditions, two of the fishermen - Ryan Galfo and Vincent Paul Valles - were swept away by strong currents while attempting to retrieve a fishing buoy,' the incident summary reads. 'Despite the rescue efforts of their companions, Reynaldo and Agosto Galfo, the worsening weather hindered further attempts. The two survivors immediately reported the incident to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Sub-station Sibunag and the PNP [Philippine National Police] Sibunag later that evening,' the report added.
GMA Network
6 days ago
- GMA Network
13-year-old boy drowned in stream in Jaro, Iloilo City
A 13-year-old boy drowned in a stream in Jaro, Iloilo City. A video showed that he was with other young boys playfully having a swim in a stream in Barangay Tagbac, Jaro District afternoon on July 20, 2025. In the video, alias 'Biboy" is the one wearing a black shirt. His family could not believe that that was the last time they would see 'Biboy' alive. He failed to come home that evening. His mother learned that the other boys in the video went home ahead of 'Biboy.' A search and rescue operation was conducted afternoon on July 21, 2025, but rescuers did not find him. However, his body was found at about 6 a.m. on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. "Hindi ko matanggap kaya lang ano ba ang magagawa natin. Sabi ko na lang sa sarili ko, isipin ko na nagbakasyon siya at namasyal,' Virginia Meguillo, the boy's mother, said. His sister mentioned that Biboy would have wanted to become a policeman. "Pangarap pa niya sanang maging pulis. Kung nasaan ka man ngayon Boy, gabayan mo lang kami,' Ruvi Jean Meguillo, his sister, said. According to the police, a wound was found on Biboy's head. "Yet to be determined pa kaya may SOCO. Pinagsabihan na sila ngunit lumilipat lang sa ibang lugar,' said Lt. Owen Andrada, deputy chief of Iloilo City Police Station 3. Meanwhile, the search for a 25-year-old male person with disability (PWD) who drowned in a river in Barangay Boulevard, Molo, Iloilo City on July 21, 2025, is on, as of this writing. The person was reportedly with his cousin and a friend gathering shells under an inclement weather condition. He was swept away by river water. 'Ang ating victim, hindi siya marunong lumangoy. Tapos ang tinawid nila, ang shoreline ng ilog. Ang kanyang pinsan, as reported, hindi rin marunong lumangoy so nahawakan siya ng kanyang pinsan,' said Ensign Marvince Genzola, spokesperson of Philippine Coast Guard-Iloilo. —GMA Regional TV
