08-07-2025
PH Navy ready to help in search for missing sabungeros in Taal Lake
The Philippine Navy is willing to help in the search for missing cockfighting enthusiasts or sabungeros in Taal Lake, according to its spokesperson on Tuesday.
'We are still waiting for the official request or for assistance from the Department of Justice. The Naval Special Operations Command is an elite unit of the Philippine Navy. They can be dispatched anytime, anywhere, any place,' Philippine Navy spokesperson Captain John Percie Alcos said at a press briefing.
'That will depend upon the initial inspection of the area but normally, as mentioned by [Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad], who is a Navy Seal, normally, three teams are dispatched for technical diving operations,' he added.
A team is normally composed of four personnel, according to Alcos.
On Monday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said authorities are looking to start searching Taal Lake this week for the bodies of the missing sabungeros.
'We want to map it out and look at the condition so we can plan how to go about it,' he said.
Asked if the authorities had specific locations in mind, Remulla said, 'Merong fishpond lease ang isang suspect na ano natin, tinutukoy natin. Bali 'yun ang ating ano... ground zero natin."
(A suspect has a fishpond lease, which we are referring to. That's our ground zero.)
The Philippine government has requested technical assistance from Japan. Remulla said the Philippine government is expecting a reply from Japan any time this week.
Over the weekend, the Department of Science and Technology offered to lend its expertise and equipment in the search. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) likewise said it is ready to lend its forensic expertise.
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.
A whistleblower, who is also one of the accused, said 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. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
