Remulla mulls Taal Lake dive to look for missing ‘sabungeros’

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has ordered an investigation into a whistleblower’s claim that the remains of 34 missing “sabungeros,” or cockfight enthusiasts, were dumped in the depths of Taal Lake in Batangas.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) on Thursday said the revelation, made in a televised interview of one of the accused in the high-profile case, will be thoroughly vetted as part of the government’s effort to resolve the mystery of the disappearances.

“We have to determine the veracity of the information,” Remulla said. “We will study what he’s saying, especially since we already have other witnesses in hand. If this is credible, we may need technical divers because it’s deep and it’s not easy to search a lakebed for human remains.”

The witness, one of six security guards earlier implicated in the disappearances linked to cockfighting operations at the Manila Arena, claimed in the interview that the sabungeros were strangled with wire and their bodies were later dumped in Taal Lake. He said threats to his family prompted him to come forward, adding that he is ready to name the mastermind “at the appropriate time.”

He also expressed a willingness to turn state’s evidence, according to the DoJ. Remulla said his account could be credible, especially since no trace of the victims has ever been found.

“If you vanish without a trace, then it must be somewhere no one has thought to look. Maybe that place hasn’t been searched yet,” Remulla said.

The disappearances, which began in late 2021, have long haunted the victims’ families and prompted multiple investigations. Some of the accused are currently out on bail, while others remain at large.

The DoJ chief acknowledged that some families may have been pressured into withdrawing their complaints and reiterated the department’s commitment to obtaining justice for them.

“It’s in the very soul of the Filipino to seek closure,” he said. “We can’t just let this go. We have to be responsible enough to seek the truth, especially in these cases.”