Remulla probes claim missing sabungeros dumped in Taal Lake

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has ordered an investigation into a whistleblower’s claim that the remains of 34 missing sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts) were dumped in Taal Lake in Batangas.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday said the testimony, made during a televised interview by one of the accused in the high-profile case, will be thoroughly vetted as part of the government’s efforts to uncover the truth behind the unresolved 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 on 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 previously implicated in the case, claimed that the 34 victims were strangled with wire and their bodies later dumped in Taal Lake. He said threats to his family pushed him to speak out and that he is ready to name the mastermind behind the killings “at the appropriate time.”

The whistleblower has expressed willingness to turn state witness, according to the DOJ.

Remulla said the testimony appears potentially credible, particularly since no remains have ever been recovered since the sabungeros began disappearing in late 2021.

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

The disappearances, which reportedly stemmed from operations tied to the Manila Arena, have long haunted the victims’ families and triggered multiple investigations. Some of the accused are out on bail, while others remain at large.

Remulla acknowledged concerns that families of victims may have been pressured into withdrawing complaints. He reiterated the DOJ’s commitment to pursuing justice.

“It is in the soul of the Filipino to seek closure,” he said. “We cannot just let it go. We must be responsible enough to seek the truth.”