Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday insinuated that some people who have been involved in the "death squads" figuring in the drug war under the past dispensation may also be involved in the deaths related to the e-sabong or online cockfights during the pandemic.

But Remulla clarified that there is a need to establish clearer links between the two.

          Remulla said in a briefing on Monday, “I think that the death squads... the people who undertake the contractual killings may intersect somehow with the drug war and with the e-sabong. May mga taong parang involve sa pagpatay sa drug war at sa e-sabong.”

The secretary cited an arrest in Meycauayan where the drug suspects arrested were allegedly intertwined in e-sabong operations.

He said there was indeed an incident where we were able to connect those two cases. And it happened in Meycauayan in a gas station there. Two people were arrested there who are now detained in Batangas.

This comes as authorities search the Taal Lake, particularly in the Municipality of Laurel, where whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan claimed the bodies of the 34 missing sabungeros were thrown.

          Remulla said it appeared that Taal Lake has become a place to dispose of human remains.

          He said that it seems it has become a habit to really dump there. It has already become a place to dispose of human remains. That’s what seems to be happening.)

          Authorities on Thursday retrieved a sack containing what appeared to be burnt human bones and on Saturday authorities recovered more sacks from the lakebed.

          Philippine National Police chief Police General Nicolas Torre III earlier said some of the recovered bones were human remains.

          Remulla said they will also tap Dr. Raquel Fortun, one of the only two forensic pathologists in the country. Fortun recently reminded authorities to handle the retrieved sacks and their contents with care.

          “She is being touted or being asked to head the Philippine Forensics Institution, which we are establishing. And she will be helping us. She will be helping us,” Remulla said.

          Meanwhile, Remulla brushed off allegations that the sacks had been planted.

          “That’s nonsense. This country is full of politics and troll farms that they also always want to spoil whatever good things we can do as a country. And that’s part of politics. If that’s the politics they want to practice, so be it,” said Remulla.

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