Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Fisherfolk return to their normal activities at the Taal lake in Talisay, Batangas on Saturday, September 23, 2023, as the volcanic smog from Taal volcano clears due to the rains. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Rowegie Abanto

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Authorities on Thursday recovered a sack containing what appeared to be bones during the retrieval operations for the remains of missing cockfight enthusiasts (sabungero) allegedly dumped in Taal Lake.</p><p>Police Col. Geovanny Emerick Sibalo, provincial director of the Batangas police, told ABS-CBN News the sack was discovered about 10 meters from the shoreline.</p><p>It has yet to be confirmed if the bones are human, as the sack was turned over to the regional Scene of the Crime Operatives for forensic examination.</p><p>Julie Patidongan, one of the accused and a potential whistleblower in the case, earlier told media that the victims were executed and dumped in the lake over suspicions of cheating in cockfight games.</p><p>The government on Thursday <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/10/government-divers-begin-initial-search-in-taal-lake-for-missing-sabungeros-0951">began its search for the missing cockfighting enthusiasts or &quot;sabungeros&quot;</a> after a whistleblower, Julie &quot;Dondon&quot; Patidongan alias &quot;Totoy,&quot; claimed that more than 100 people were killed and dumped in the lake near the active Taal Volcano.</p><p>They were executed for allegedly cheating in multimillion-peso online sabong operations, Patidongan claimed.</p><p>The DOJ has identified businessman Atong Ang and actress Gretchen Barretto as suspects in the case following the whistleblower&#x27;s revelations. </p><p>They both strongly denied any links to the disappearance of the cockfight gamers.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/7/10/tremors-from-taal-volcano-amid-search-for-sabungeros-1355">Tremors from Taal Volcano amid search for sabungeros</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/7/10/navy-seals-underwater-drones-to-be-used-in-search-for-missing-sabungeros-0913">Navy SEALs, underwater drones to be used in search for missing sabungeros</a></div><div><em>More details to follow.</em></div>

<p>Authorities on Thursday recovered a sack containing what appeared to be bones during retrieval operations for the remains of missing cockfight enthusiasts allegedly dumped in Taal Lake.</p>

Authorities on Thursday recovered a sack containing what appeared to be bones during retrieval operations for the remains of missing cockfight enthusiasts allegedly dumped in Taal Lake.

Authorities searching Taal for sabungeros recover sack that may contain bones

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Authorities searching Taal for sabungeros recover sack that may contain bones

Rowegie Abanto,

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 10, 2025 07:02 PM PHT

Read More:

ABSNews

ANC promo

missing sabungeros

Taal Lake

Batangas

crime

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gambling

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investigation

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