The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is mobilizing its technical divers for a possible search and retrieval mission in Taal Lake, Batangas, following claims that the remains of the 34 missing “sabungeros” (cockfighters) were allegedly buried there.
On Friday, June 20, PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan ordered the Coast Guard Special Operations Force (CGSOF) to coordinate with the Department of Justice (DOJ), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Philippine Navy (PN) for the “immediate and strategic deployment of technical divers” to help verify the reports.
“If the DOJ needs the expertise of our men and women to confirm or reject this piece of information as part of the case build-up, we will be there,” Gavan said.
The development follows an interview aired by GMA News, where one of the accused in the case claimed the missing cockfighters were already dead and buried in the lake.
The same individual alleged the victims were strangled using a tie wire before being disposed of.
The accused did not reveal the brains behind the killings but suggested that the true number of victims could be as high as 100 cockfighters, far more than the 34 cases officially recorded by the Philippine National Police (PNP). He also expressed his willingness to submit an affidavit detailing all he knows about the case.
After the accused’s revelation, DOJ Secretary Jesus Remulla raised the possibility that technical divers from the PCG and Navy might be needed to verify the claims.
The PCG’s elite divers are trained in underwater search and recovery, particularly in challenging environments like lakes with low visibility and varying depths.
Meanwhile, the Navy has yet to respond to the DOJ Secretary’s remarks.
The cockfighters went missing between April 2021 to January 2022 in various cockfighting arenas and the victims’ homes in Laguna, Batangas, Manila, and Bulacan.
The families of the missing cockfighters continue to seek justice, hoping that the new information will finally uncover the truth behind the high-profile disappearances. (Martin Sadongdong)
