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The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday said the search and retrieval operation for the missing cockfighting enthusiasts or sabungeros in Taal Lake will start Friday if the weather permits.
“Technical divers will commence the search and retrieval operations to look for the remains of the missing sabungeros that are allegedly dumped at Taal Lake tomorrow, 11 July 2025, as weather permits,” the PCG said in a statement.
Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog commander Commodore Geronimo Tuvilla will lead all operational and tactical control, including operational guidance for personnel safety and environmental factors.
PCG chief Admiral Ronnie Gil L. Gavan directed the Coast Guard Fleet and Coast Guard Aviation Command to utilize remotely operated vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles to support the operation.
Gavan received a formal request from Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday for the mobilization and deployment of specialized Coast Guard units to help the ongoing investigation into the missing sabungeros.
Among the challenges the searchers may face are the possible bad weather and strong current as well as the threat of the of Taal Volcano.
Alert Level 1 is raised over Taal Volcano, which means the volcano is in an abnormal condition and should not be interpreted to have ceased unrest nor ceased the threat of eruptive activity.
Under Alert Level 1, the possible hazards are sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, minor ashfall, and lethal accumulations or expulsions of volcanic gas.
Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano on Thursday said the department believes that remains of the missing sabungeros from Taal Lake.
“May mga nagsasabi po na meron pa po tayong maaabutan. They indicated certain factors dahil what we’re dealing with now is more freshwater (We were told that we can still find remains. They indicated certain factors because what we’re dealing with now is more freshwater),” Clavano said in an ambush interview.
“Yung mga dating searches were done in saltwater. There are experts advising us on what we should be looking for (Precious searches were done in saltwater. There are experts advising us on what we should be looking for),” he added.
Officials of the Philippine Coast Guard, the Department of Justice, and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group conducted a technical site assessment at Taal Lake Thursday.
Clavano noted that authorities will not conduct the actual dive Thursday.
A total of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts have been reported missing from 2021 to 2022. According to the police, the missing personalities were kidnapped allegedly due to match fixing or cheating in the cockfighting games.
Whistleblower and co-accused Julie “Dondon” Patidongan claimed that the victims were already .
He named businessman Atong Ang as a mastermind in the case and also linked actress Gretchen Barretto to the disappearances. Both have denied the allegations.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
