Batangas: The families of missing sabungeros (cockfight aficionados) welcomed the start of the government's search for human remains possibly linked to the disappearance of their loved ones at Taal Lake in Batangas province. The Department of Justice, together with technical divers from the Philippine Coast Guard, initiated the search for the sabungeros' remains in Taal Lake on Thursday.
According to Philippines News Agency, this action followed a revelation by whistleblower Julie 'Dondon' Patidongan, who claimed that the remains of the missing sabungeros were disposed of in the lake. Cha Lasco, sister of Ricardo Lasco, an online cockfighting (e-sabong) master agent who was taken from his home in San Pablo City, Laguna, in August 2021, expressed gratitude for the government's efforts. "We thank the Lord God. Finally, all branches of the government are helping to recover the bodies, if they really are in Taal Lake. We are hoping some bodies will still be recovered," she said.
Lasco, along with other families of the missing sabungeros, visited the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG) at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Thursday. She mentioned that the relatives were open to joining the search if invited and had gone to the CIDG to submit affidavits for their complaints against those potentially involved in their family members' disappearance.
Lasco refrained from providing further details about her affidavit but noted that her complaint was different from the one previously filed by her brother's partner. Additionally, she and other relatives met with Patidongan on Wednesday to discuss the situation.
Elma, another family member of a sabungero taken from the Manila Arena in January 2022, requested anonymity for safety reasons. She stated that she sought clarity from the Lord and believed the whistleblower's knowledge of the disappearance might be divine intervention. Elma also mentioned her intent to file a new complaint after learning that her family member's partner had allegedly accepted a settlement.
DOJ spokesperson Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano previously remarked that finding the victim's body is not essential to proving a murder crime. A conviction is feasible without the body, provided the fact of death is established in court. Clavano also revealed that a formal request for equipment from the Japanese government was made to aid in the planned recovery of the sabungeros' remains in Taal Lake.
The DOJ announced that the search for the bodies would be an inter-agency operation involving law enforcement agencies and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau.