Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday confirmed the recovery of human remains from an exhumation site in Taal, Batangas that may be connected to previously reported disappearances, including that of a pregnant woman allegedly abducted in Lipa.

Remulla said the site was identified through information corroborated by government efforts.

“There were remains recovered, and the area was identified by our sources and validated by government discovery efforts. Some of the remains were linked to 44 individuals previously identified by the forensic medical team,” Remulla said in a briefing.

He noted that the area had been flagged by police as a possible dumping ground for victims of extrajudicial killings or enforced disappearances.

According to Remulla, the remains included personal items that pointed to the identities of some victims, such as lipstick and shoes. One of the recovered sets appeared to belong to a woman and matched descriptions of a pregnant female who was abducted in Lipa several years ago.

“These are not ordinary cases. Some of the remains were recovered back in 2020, after floating bodies were found in Taal. These were initially claimed and buried in the usual way, but many were not identified by relatives,” Remulla said.

The Department of Justice, in coordination with police forensic teams, is now working to gather evidence and confirm the identities of the deceased. Remulla acknowledged the complexity of the forensic investigation, particularly because some bodies may have been buried for as long as five years.

He also cited findings from a forensic doctor suggesting that several of the remains may belong to victims who were abducted and never returned.

“We’re doing everything to obtain the best evidence possible,” he added, pointing to investigative methods used in Argentina to identify victims of state atrocities through recovered remains.

Remulla confirmed that the investigation is being carried out in coordination with the Philippine National Police, with support from intelligence units working to trace vehicles and license plates used in the suspected abductions.

The DOJ has also sought the assistance of foreign diplomatic posts, including the Japanese Embassy, to help identify any foreign victims or provide related intelligence.

The exhumation effort is part of a broader investigation into unresolved disappearances, some of which may be linked to organized criminal activity or possible state-sanctioned violence.