Sack with ‘burned bones’ recovered in Taal Lake - DOJ

Metro Manila, Philippines - A sack containing “what appears to be burned human bones” has been recovered in Taal Lake in Batangas after authorities assessed the area for the search for missing cockfight enthusiasts or sabungero on Thursday, July 10.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said the sack was found in the lakebed.

The Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group or the National Bureau of Investigation will conduct forensic examination on the remains to determine if those are from a human, the DOJ said.

If it is, the remains would undergo a DNA test to see whether it would match any of the victims’ families.

“This discovery could represent a significant breakthrough in the ongoing investigation. While we proceed with caution and diligence, it offers renewed hope that we are closer to uncovering the truth and securing justice for the families of the missing,” the DOJ said in a statement.

Authorities inspected and conducted a surface search at the Taal Lake after suspect-turned-witness Julie Patidongan claimed that the cockfighters' bodies were thrown there.

Thirty-four sabungeros went missing from 2021 to 2022 after allegedly cheating the games. But Patidongan said the victims could reach up to a hundred.

Government officials noted that among the challenges in the search are the strong current, murky waters, and the lake’s depth.

Patidongan earlier tagged gaming businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and actress Gretchen Barretto as masterminds in the disappearances, which the two denied. The DOJ considered them as suspects.