Remulla confirms exhumations tied to missing sabong, drug war cases

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday confirmed several exhumations are now underway in connection with the ongoing probe into disappearances possibly linked to illegal online cockfighting operations and overlapping cases from the drug war.

Remulla said more evidence is being evaluated and that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has been coordinating with forensic teams to investigate bodies buried without being claimed—some dating back to 2020. He said these cases involve interconnected activities, primarily related to the e-sabong network, but could also overlap with drug war incidents.

“There’s more possible evidence being evaluated. We are identifying the relevant cases,” Remulla said. “The Fish Cage area is one of the key locations under scrutiny. It was reportedly used by individuals involved in the disposal of human remains, and it’s owned by an operative linked to contractors we are investigating.”

Remulla added that additional sites, including areas in Caloocan and Batangas, are being examined. One such area in Batangas contained unclaimed bodies allegedly buried on orders of the police after no families came forward.

Remulla revealed, “Some victims were found as early as 2020 and were buried by police after going unclaimed in forensic facilities." “We are exhuming them now as we speak. We must find out who these people are.”

The government, to identify the remains, is setting up a national DNA database. The Justice chief also confirmed the involvement of international agencies in the effort, including Interpol and the Japanese Embassy, which have pledged to assist with equipment and forensic expertise. Coordination is ongoing with the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the FBI forensic group.

The focus, Remulla clarified, remains on e-sabong, but due to intersecting evidence and shared perpetrators, the investigation now touches on drug war-related killings.

“We are focused on the e-sabong cases. But if there’s an intersection [with drug war operations], we cannot turn our backs. It must be part of a comprehensive investigation,” Remulla said.

When asked about reports involving police personnel in operations linked to the acquisition of cockpit arenas, Remulla declined to comment.

On the other hand, samples for DNA testing are still being collected and processed, with agencies working jointly under a proposal to establish a National Forensic Institute.

“This is not an easy task. We need all the help we can get,” Remulla said.

Findings are expected to be released once identification results and location-specific evidence are verified.