Philstar
Human or not? Expert urges forensic exam of Taal bones
Divers retrieved two more sacks believed to contain human bones from Taal Lake, Batangas, bringing the total to five sacks recovered.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) stated the discovery lends credibility to a whistleblower's claims regarding the missing cockfighting enthusiasts.
Forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun has been tapped to assist in the investigation, but expressed skepticism about the recovered items, emphasizing the need for systematic and scientific examination to determine if they are human.
She stated that if the bones are not human, the case would be moot.
DNA samples have been taken from relatives of the missing for matching with the recovered remains.
If DNA tests do not yield a match, the DOJ will investigate if the case involves another murder.
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The PNP Forensic Group (PNP FG) is investigating the origin of three bone fragments recovered from Taal Lake, distinguishing them from six other fragments previously identified as likely human.
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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.
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The Philippine National Police (PNP) is expediting the forensic examination of items retrieved from Taal Lake, including those found in five sacks by the Philippine Coast Guard.
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Divers from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) began their search for the remains of missing sabungeros in Taal Lake on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
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Divers from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) are continuing underwater search operations in Taal Lake for 34 missing cockfighting enthusiasts.
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