Palace assures no cover-up in missing sabungeros probe

Malacañang on Friday assured the public that there will be no cover-up in the ongoing investigation into the case of the missing sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts), following the recent discovery of a sack containing bones in Taal Lake, Batangas.

In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Office Atty. Claire Castro acknowledged that the recent discovery of remains could potentially be linked to the long-unsolved disappearances of several sabungeros.

She also stressed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains steadfast in his commitment to uncovering the truth and securing justice for the victims and their families.

"Sa Pangulo po, dapat po talaga ay mas alamin pa kung ito pong mga natagpuan ay talagang may kinalaman po sa nasabing kaso ng mga missing sabungeros (The President believes it is essential to first determine whether the recovered remains are indeed connected to the case of the missing sabungeros),” she said.

If the link is confirmed, Castro said it will only reinforce the administration’s commitment to delivering justice to the victims and their families.

"At hindi po ito pababayaan, hindi po magkakaroon ng cover-up, tuluy-tuloy pa rin po ang pag-iimbestiga. Iyan po ang nais ng Pangulo (And this will not be ignored. There will be no cover-up. The investigation will continue, that is the President’s directive),” she added.

Castro reiterated the Marcos administration’s earlier statement that no individual will be spared in the pursuit of accountability.

Earlier this week, skeletal remains were discovered on the shoreline of Taal Lake in Laurel, Batangas. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the remains were found inside a white sack by a joint team from the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The DOJ confirmed that the bones appeared to be charred and said forensic experts from either the CIDG or the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will determine whether the remains belong to humans and if they can be linked to the missing individuals.

The case of the missing sabungeros, which began in 2021, has become a high-profile national issue, with families of the victims repeatedly calling for justice and accountability amid years of unresolved investigation.