Jamaine Punzalan

Members of the Philippine Coast Guard navigate the waters of Taal Lake in Talisay, Batangas, on Thursday, July 10, 2025, as the multi-agency search continues for the missing 'sabungeros.' Divers are focusing on areas identified as possible dumping sites, including a fishpond area dubbed 'ground zero,' based on witness testimonies.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Johnson Manabat

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175221141047020250710-taal-lake-ph-coast-guard-sabungeros-MT08.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of the Philippine Coast Guard navigate the waters of Taal Lake in Talisay, Batangas, on Thursday, July 10, 2025, as the multi-agency search continues for the missing &#x27;sabungeros.&#x27; Divers are focusing on areas identified as possible dumping sites, including a fishpond area dubbed &#x27;ground zero,&#x27; based on witness testimonies.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED) </strong>— Technical divers of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) were able to retrieved more sack  that may contain human bones from Taal Lake in Laurel, Batangas as it continued the search for the missing cockfight enthusiasts allegedly murdered by police scalawags.</p><p>PCG deployed its team early morning of Friday, July 11 to two separate dive points about 52 to 72 feet away form the shoreline of Barangay Balakilong in Laurel town.</p><p>The first wave of search operation was composed of 13 divers who were able to reach depths ranging from 16.6 to 21. 8 meters, said the PCG.</p><p>Charlene Lasco, sister of missing “sabungero” Ricardo “Jonjon” Lasco Jr., personally witnessed how the PCG search team do their search, hoping to finally have an answer to their prayers to find her brother.</p><p>”Sana yun na yung kapatid ko eh - sana siya na yun,” Lasco told reporters.</p><p>“Excited po kaming lahat, its a mixed emotion at the same time nalulungkot, meron kaba pero ganon pa man at least we are happy finally lahat ng sinasabi ni Dondon Patidongan ay totoo,” Lasco explained.</p><p>Lasco believed the revelations of whistleblower Julie Patidongan was just the tip of the ice berg.</p><p>“Opo ilalaban po namin ‘to apat na taon na ho..hindi ho kami naiinip at kami ay talagang punong-puno ng pagasa sa araw-araw lalo na ngayon,” said Lasco.</p><p>According to Lasco, they are ready to give DNA samples to authorities to validate whether the retrieved bones were those of her brother Jonjon.</p><p>As of this writing, the PCG or local authorities have yet to issue any statement or confirmation if the recovered sacks contained human remains.</p><div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:560px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" 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style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:511px;height:288px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="1943526991623237834"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>The start of the search on Thursday yielded a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/10/doj-bones-found-in-taal-lake-to-undergo-dna-testing-2029">sack containing what appeared to be burnt human bones.</a></p><p>A forensic examination and DNA testing were needed before conclusions could be drawn, the justice department said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/11/can-bones-found-in-taal-lake-still-be-identified-forensic-pathologist-answers-0931">Bones found in Taal Lake may still be identified if among &#x27;missing sabungeros&#x27;: Forensic pathologist</a></div><p>Fifteen police officers are under investigation over a spate of mysterious disappearances in 2022 in the country&#x27;s huge cockfighting industry.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/7/whistleblower-claims-cops-got-over-p2-m-monthly-from-ang-s-camp-in-missing-sabungero-case-2239">Whistleblower claims cops got over P2-M monthly from Ang’s camp in missing sabungero case</a></div><p>The case erupted back into the public consciousness last month after a witness claimed to know where bodies had been submerged in Lake Taal.</p><p>As many as 100 people were murdered over their alleged involvement in match-fixing, killed by police moonlighting for an online cockfight operator, according to witness Julie &quot;Dondon&quot; Patidongan.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/9/gretchen-barretto-camp-questions-whistleblower-totoy-s-credibility-in-missing-sabungeros-case-1134">Gretchen Barretto camp questions whistleblower&#x27;s credibility in missing sabungeros case</a></div><div><strong>&#x27;NO COVER-UP&#x27;</strong></div><p>Malacañang reaffirmed its commitment to the families of missing sabungeros in attaining justice.</p><p>“Sa Pangulo po, dapat po talaga ay mas alamin pa kung ito pong mga natagpuan ay talagang may kinalaman po sa nasabing kaso ng mga missing sabungeros,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said.  </p><p>“At kung ito po ay mapapatunayang talagang konektado, ito’y nagpapakita lamang na ang Pangulo at ang kasalukuyang administrasyon ay tutulong upang makamtam ang hustisya para sa mga biktima,” she said in a press briefing. </p><p>The official said the case would be given proper attention and would be free from any cover-up. </p><p>“At hindi po ito pababayaan, hindi po magkakaroon ng cover-up, tuluy-tuloy pa rin po ang pag-iimbestiga – iyan po ang nais ng Pangulo,” Castro said.</p><p>Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla has since said that &quot;multiple witnesses&quot; could identify the location of those missing in the lake, which spans more than 230 square kilometers.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/2/bfar-says-fish-in-taal-lake-safe-to-eat-amid-claims-sabungeros-bodies-dumped-in-lake-1459">BFAR assures fish in Taal Lake safe to eat amid claims that missing sabungeros&#x27; bodies dumped in lake</a></div><p>Filipinos from all walks of life wager millions of dollars on matches every week between roosters who fight to the death with razor-sharp metal spurs tied to their legs.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/4/philippines-asks-japan-s-help-searching-lake-for-missing-cockfighters-1613">Philippines asks Japan&#x27;s help searching lake for missing cockfighters</a></div><p>Cockfighting, banned in many other countries, survived coronavirus pandemic restrictions by going online, drawing many more gamblers who use their mobile phones to place wagers.</p><p>Former president Rodrigo Duterte banned the livestreaming of cockfights shortly before leaving office in 2022, but it has continued due to lax enforcement.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/3/lorna-kapunan-whistleblower-linked-to-disappearance-of-sabungeros-1141">Lorna Kapunan: Whistleblower linked to disappearance of &#x27;sabungeros&#x27;?</a></div><div><strong>— With reports from Johnson Manabat, ABS-CBN News; Agence France-Presse</strong></div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABcGMRClM725191Z"></script>

<p>The Philippine Coast Guard on Friday spotted more sacks at the bottom of Taal Lake as it continued its search for dozens of cockfighters allegedly murdered by rogue police.</p>

The Philippine Coast Guard on Friday spotted more sacks at the bottom of Taal Lake as it continued its search for dozens of cockfighters allegedly murdered by rogue police.

Missing sabungeros search: More sacks spotted on Taal’s lakebed

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Missing sabungeros search: More sacks spotted on Taal’s lakebed

Johnson Manabat,

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News,

Agence France-Presse

Published July 11, 2025 01:27 PM PHT

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Updated July 11, 2025 07:59 PM PHT

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