DoJ: missing sabungeros’ search to continue

The Department of Justice (DoJ) said Saturday that the search for the missing sabungeros or cockfighting aficionados in Taal Lake will continue despite prosecutors’ recommendation to indict businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and 21 others on multiple criminal charges.

The DoJ gave the assurance to the families of the victims following the release of the resolution recommending the filing of cases.

Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said the issuance of the resolution does not signal an end to the search operations being conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

He said nothing would prevent the prosecution from continuing to seek the assistance of the PCG and conducting dive operations to determine whether skeletal remains or other evidence could still be recovered to support the case.

Fadullon added that only inclement weather or volcanic activity at Taal could temporarily suspend dive operations.

DoJ spokesperson Polo Martinez provided an update on the progress of the search in Taal Lake, which has been divided into four quadrants to ensure a systematic operation.

Martinez said search and retrieval efforts are “currently ongoing” in Quadrant 3, following the completion of operations in Quadrants 1 and 2 by the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

He added that the results of DNA examinations on any remains or evidence recovered will only be disclosed once finalized by the appropriate agency.

Ang and the other respondents were indicted after prosecutors found sufficient prima facie evidence linking them to the disappearance.

More than 30 cockfighting enthusiasts went missing between 2021 and 2022 after attending cockfighting events linked to illegal online sabong operations.

Authorities believe the victims were abducted, killed, and their bodies dumped in Taal Lake. Testimonies from whistleblowers alleged the involvement of operators, security personnel and middlemen in silencing individuals suspected of game-fixing.

The DoJ earlier said the crimes may constitute kidnapping, serious illegal detention and murder.

The investigation intensified after witnesses pointed to specific dumping sites in Taal Lake, prompting sustained search and recovery operations by government agencies.