LAUREL, Batangas — Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) divers recovered two more sacks believed to be linked to the 2021 disappearance of 34 cockfight enthusiasts, or sabungeros, in a grueling third dive operation in Taal Lake on Saturday, 12 July.
The sacks were retrieved around 2 p.m. southeast of the Alitagtag-Laurel bridge and were found weighted with cement and stones. They were immediately turned over to Scene of the Crime Operatives (SoCO) and other law enforcement units for forensic analysis.
Commodore Geronimo Tuvilla, commander of Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog, said the newly recovered sacks differed from the three found earlier.
“Technically, [they have the] same texture with the first three sacks but the description is different. This is the only set so far with cement,” he said in an interview at the dive site.
The search began at around 8 a.m., with divers redeployed about 20 meters southeast of the previous day’s location. Underwater conditions had worsened significantly, making the operation even more challenging.
“Visibility was extremely poor,” Tuvilla said. “Yesterday, you could still see clearly before reaching the bottom. Today, it dropped to about one meter upon descent. Practically zero visibility once you’re at the lake bed.”
The divers, who were essentially blind underwater, relied on touch to feel their way across the lake bed, slowly identifying suspicious objects. These were marked with buoys and flotation devices for follow-up inspection by investigators from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Bureau of Internal Affairs (BIA).
“Markings are crucial,” Tuvilla said. “We use flotation devices and buoys to prevent divers from getting disoriented at the bottom and to relocate identified objects.”
Each dive team used reference lines to ensure a safe return to their entry points despite strong currents and uneven terrain. Underwater cameras were deployed but Tuvilla said visibility was so poor that even video footage was limited by the suspended sediment.
Tuvilla noted that the newly recovered sacks were significantly heavier than the previous ones.
“You saw in the footage how our personnel had to drag them using force because of the weight. We’re seeing embedded cement, stones, and mixed debris, possibly sand,” he said.
Divers also reportedly found discarded feed sacks and footwear — rubber sandals and shoes — possibly connected to the missing individuals. These items are undergoing further evaluation.
As of Saturday afternoon, five sacks have been recovered and are being processed separately under strict PCG and SOCO protocols. Several other areas have been flagged as “suspicious,” though Tuvilla stressed that retrievals must be coordinated with and witnessed by investigators.
“There are technicalities and safety considerations. Everything must be documented properly,” he said. “We will do everything we can to help ease the pain of the families of the missing. Your Coast Guard will not stop.”
The search zone spans roughly 100 square meters, with dive patterns continuously refined based on the terrain and the intelligence.
ROV to join search
To support the search and reduce the risk to the divers, the PCG is deploying a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) capable of deepwater operations. The ROV, currently aboard the BRP Teresa Magbanua, is expected to arrive at the dive site by Sunday or early next week.
“This is a PCG-owned asset and we are expecting its arrival this Sunday or Monday. It will be promptly deployed at the dive site,” said PCG spokesperson Captain Noemie Cayabyab in a media briefing.
The ROV is equipped with floodlights, a manipulator arm for retrieving heavy materials, and can operate at depths of up to 1,000 feet. It will provide real-time video footage to assist investigators in identifying and securing underwater evidence.
Tuvilla confirmed that 30 PCG divers are currently involved in the operation.
Clarification on sack use
In response to public questions about the use of new red and blue sacks during retrieval, the PCG clarified that they were used to protect the fragile sacks found underwater.
“It is a necessary precaution due to the deteriorated condition of the original sacks,” Tuvilla said.
Photos and videos showing divers surfacing with the brightly colored sacks prompted speculation online, but Tuvilla said the move was made to ensure the integrity of potential evidence during extraction.
The retrieved sacks, now in police custody, will undergo forensic testing to determine if they contain human remains and if they are connected to the missing sabungeros.
The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Philippine National Police and the Department of Justice.
Despite the extreme conditions, authorities said the search will continue until answers are found for the families who have waited more than two years.