Latest news with #Julie'Dondon'Patidongan
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Taal Lake horror: claims of 100 men drowned in murder plot turn Philippines fishing haven into crime scene
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. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category healthcare others Digital Marketing Technology Project Management Finance Operations Management Healthcare Design Thinking PGDM Others Public Policy Artificial Intelligence Leadership Product Management Cybersecurity CXO MCA MBA Data Science Data Science Management Degree Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Lucknow CERT-IIML Healthcare Management India Starts on undefined Get Details Also read: Everything you need to know before exploring the islands of the Philippines by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Remember Him? Sit Down Before You See What He Looks Like Now 33 Bridges Undo 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. Live Events 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. Also read: US will build repair facilities for the Philippine navy near the disputed South China Sea 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) Also read: AI fakes duel over Sara Duterte impeachment in Philippines 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.
GMA Network
18-07-2025
- GMA Network
Taal Lake ops for missing sabungeros suspended due to bad weather
Search and retrieval operation for the missing sabungeros at Taal Lake was temporarily suspended on Friday due to inclement weather, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Justice spokesperson Atty. Mico Clavano said the operation was suspended at 9:29 a.m. 'Coast Guard Underwater Search Operations utilizing its Tech Divers and ROV was temporarily placed on standby due to continuous rainfall and surface runoff from the nearby river,' he said in a statement. 'Elevated turbidity levels significantly reduced underwater visibility, resulting in unfavorable condition for the conduct of any diving operations,' he added. Earlier, PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 in over 10 areas in Luzon as Tropical Storm Crising slightly intensified approaching Cagayan and Babuyan Islands. Crising is expected to make landfall over Cagayan or Babuyan Islands on Friday afternoon or evening. Last week, authorities started searching Taal Lake for the remains of the missing sabungeros. This came after whistleblower Julie 'Dondon' Patidongan claimed that more than 100 sabungeros were abducted, killed, and then dumped at Taal Lake. On Thursday, authorities recovered what appeared to be human ribs from the lake. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
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GMA Network
12-07-2025
- GMA Network
Patidongan to file complaint affidavit vs cops linked to missing sabungeros
Julie 'Dondon' Patidongan alias Totoy says he will go to NAPOLCOM on Monday, July 14, 2025. Whistleblower Julie 'Dondon' Patidongan alias Totoy on Saturday announced he will be filing a complaint affidavit against police officers whom he claimed were involved in the case of missing sabungeros (cockfight enthusiasts). 'Sa Lunes, pupunta ako ng NAPOLCOM (National Police Commission)… 'Yung mga pulis na nabanggit ko ay kakasuhan ko na sa NAPOLCOM,' Patidongan said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB. (On Monday, I will go to NAPOLCOM. I will file a complaint against the police officers I mentioned.) Last Saturday, NAPOLCOM vice chairperson Atty. Rafael Calinisan urged Patidongan to file a complaint affidavit with the agency against some police officers who were allegedly involved in the case of the missing sabungeros. The NAPOLCOM said earlier it already has a list of police officers linked to the case of the missing cockfight enthusiasts. The police commission has been investigating cops who were linked to the disappearance of the sabungeros for the administrative aspect of the case. A total of 15 cops were placed under restrictive custody at Camp Crame, Quezon City for their alleged involvement in the abduction of the sabungeros as claimed by Patidongan. Some of the 15 cops in restrictive custody were included in the list of those who allegedly received up to P2 million monthly payola from businessman Atong Ang, who was among the supposed masterminds in the disappearances, as claimed by Patidongan. During the radio interview, Patidongan said one of the cops involved, who is still active in service, owns a fishpond in Taal Lake. 'Siguro doon dinala at doon isinagawa ang pagpaslang sa missing sabungeros,' he said. (Maybe that is where the missing sabungeros were brought and where they were killed.) On Thursday, Calinisan said another potential witness in the disappearance of cockfighting enthusiasts was able to send additional information or feelers on the case. According to the NAPOLCOM official, the potential potential witness has a connection with Patidongan. A total of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts have been reported missing from 2021 to 2022. According to the police, the missing personalities were kidnapped allegedly due to match fixing or cheating in the cockfighting games. Patidongan claimed that the victims were already buried in Taal Lake. He named businessman Atong Ang as a mastermind in the case and also linked actress Gretchen Barretto to the disappearances. Both have denied the allegations. 'Sa sobrang dami niyan, hindi ko masyadong matandaan kung ilan ang inilubog nila diyan (Taal Lake). Base sa mga video na sinend sa akin, talagang may inilubog diyan,' Patidongan said. (Due to their big number, I cannot remember much how many [sabungeros] were thrown there.) 'Sa sobrang dami, ang ginagawa nilang mabilisan... baka chinop-chop nila 'yan... Nilagyan nila ng pabigat na buhangin...,' he said. (Because there were so many of the missing sabungeros, they had to do the killing quick. It's possible that they chopped up their bodies. They added sand as added weight.) Divers from the Philippine Coast Guard have found and are retrieving more sacks at the bottom of the Taal Lake in Batangas, following the retrieval of a sack containing what appeared to be burned human bones. —KG, GMA Integrated News
