Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday said the search for the 34 missing sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts) in Taal Lake, Batangas, may take another six months to complete.

Remulla made the statement following the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) confirmation that human remains were among the bones recovered during the lake search.

“Many people died here, and what we’re doing is no easy task—searching for human remains in a vast lake that spans 224 square kilometers,” he said.

He added that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has been investigating the case for three years and is now preparing to organize evidence for formal presentation.

“So even though we really want to know right away what will happen, it’s a process we have to endure and wait for. This can’t be rushed,” Remulla said.

This week, Remulla noted, authorities will begin collecting DNA samples from both interested and uninterested family members of the missing individuals to establish a comprehensive DNA bank.

On Monday, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo confirmed that DNA samples had already been collected from 12 relatives of the missing sabungeros. The samples, along with the remains recovered from the lake, are being examined by the PNP Forensic Group.

So far, Philippine Coast Guard divers have retrieved five sacks with undisclosed contents from Taal Lake. The first sack was found to contain suspected charred human bones, recovered approximately 10 meters from the shoreline of Barangay Balakilong in Laurel, Batangas.

In June, whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, also known as Totoy, claimed that the missing sabungeros had been killed and buried in Taal Lake. Patidongan—one of six security guards previously accused of abducting the victims—alleged that the men were strangled with tie wire before their bodies were dumped into the lake.