Human remains found in Taal Lake linked to missing e-sabong personnel

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed that two of the four sacks recovered from Taal Lake by the Philippine Coast Guard contained human remains, specifically ribs.

These recoveries corroborate the claims of whistleblower Julie Patidongan, alias Totoy, who identified the lake area as a dumping site for victims.

The DOJ and PCG began their search on July 10, following leads from an accused who alleged that missing individuals were killed and disposed of in the lake.

Despite the disappearances occurring four years prior, experts believe retrieving remains is still feasible due to the freshwater lake's conditions.

The recovered bones will undergo forensic examination to confirm their human origin and DNA testing to match them with potential relatives.

The DOJ plans to collect DNA samples from families of the missing to establish a DNA bank for identification.

Additionally, three unclaimed cadavers were exhumed from a cemetery near the lake, possibly linked to the missing e-sabong personnel abducted in Lipa, Batangas.