Manila: The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday began technical dives and site assessment at the Taal Lake in Batangas for the search for the missing 'sabungeros' (cockfighting enthusiasts). In a situation report, PCG District Southern Tagalog (CGDSTL) Commander, Commodore Geronimo Tuvilla, said the staging area, command post, and aerial drones to be used in the operation are already in place.

According to Philippines News Agency, Tuvilla has been tasked to oversee all operational and tactical control, including providing operational guidance to ensure personnel safety and address environmental factors. To date, 11 technical divers have arrived at Taal Lake, with a total of 33 divers expected to participate in the search.

Tuvilla explained that the operation aims to investigate the lead suggesting that the bodies of victims were possibly thrown into the lake. This effort is in response to a formal request from Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla for the mobilization and deployment of specialized PCG units, including support teams, to augment the DOJ's investigation.

The search is part of an inter-agency operation among the DOJ, PCG, and the Philippine National Police (PNP). In June, whistleblower Julie 'Dondon' Patidongan, alias Totoy, one of six security guards accused of abducting the 34 missing sabungeros, offered to cooperate in the investigation. He claimed that the victims were murdered through strangulation using a tie wire and were thrown into the lake.