DOJ starts Taal Lake search for missing cockfighters

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla announced on Monday that the search for the bodies of missing cockfighting aficionados in Taal Lake would begin within the week.

The search operation commenced on Thursday, July 10, starting at Club Balai Isabel in Talisay, Batangas, with technical divers from the Philippine Coast Guard assessing water conditions and identifying the area covered by the search.

Department of Justice spokesperson Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano stated that the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) would be involved in the preliminary phase, alongside families of the missing sabungeros who gave affidavits to support their complaints.

Julie Patidongan, one of the accused, previously claimed that the victims were killed and their bodies thrown into the lake with sandbags tied to them as part of orders by a syndicate controlling the multi-billion-peso cockfight industry.

Justice Secretary Remulla has yet to receive a response from Japan regarding his request for technical assistance for the underwater search.

Meanwhile, families of missing sabungeros welcomed the start of the government's search and expressed hope that some bodies would still be recovered.

The justice secretary also named businessman Atong Ang as a possible mastermind in the case, an allegation which both have denied involvement in.