Marilyn Cahatol

Philippine Coast Guard personnel hand over a sack containing suspected remains to Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) during the third day of search operations in Laurel, Batangas, on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The retrieval is part of the ongoing investigation into the case of a missing sabungero.
Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

MISSING SABUNGEROS- TAAL SEARCH

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<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/175265581688520250712-missing-sabingero-taal-lake-MT2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Philippine Coast Guard personnel hand over a sack containing suspected remains to Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) during the third day of search operations in Laurel, Batangas, on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The retrieval is part of the ongoing investigation into the case of a missing sabungero. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Philippine Coast Guard personnel hand over a sack containing suspected remains to Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) during the third day of search operations in Laurel, Batangas, on Saturday, July 12, 2025. The retrieval is part of the ongoing investigation into the case of a missing sabungero. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday said authorities are exhuming three bodies from around Taal Lake as part of the search for the missing sabungeros.</p><p>Remulla said the exhumation is being done in Batangas as the Philippine Coast Guard continues its dive operations in Taal Lake.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/14/human-bones-found-in-taal-in-missing-sabungeros-search-pnp-1059">Human bones found in Taal in missing sabungeros search: PNP</a></div><p>“Yung mga nahanap sa isang parte ng Batangas na hindi na-claim, tatlong tao &#x27;to, ang usual dyan, pinalilibing ng pulisya kapag walang nag-claim sa punerarya, so pinapa-exhume natin ngayon,” Remulla said.</p><p>(We are exhuming remains found in part of Batangas that were not claimed. Usually, the police have bodies buried if they are not claimed from the funeral homes)</p><p>He maintained that the drug war during the Duterte administration and the missing sabungeros case are linked.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/15/potential-link-of-drug-war-sabungeros-case-could-be-added-evidence-vs-duterte-1135">&#x27;Missing sabungeros&#x27; case may boost ICC case vs Duterte: drug war victims&#x27; lawyer</a></div><p>Remulla however refused to comment on the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/16/duterte-on-being-linked-to-missing-sabungeros-case-that-s-preposterous-1406">statement</a> of former President Rodrigo Duterte, through Vice President Sara Duterte, that the supposed link is “preposterous.”</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/15/doj-open-to-families-who-withdrew-from-missing-sabungeros-case-1349">DOJ open to families who withdrew from missing sabungeros case</a></div><p>He said there are similarities in the people used in enforced disappearances and in drug war killings.</p><p>“[T]hey were part of the drug war and they were part of the disposition group dito sa e-sabong,” Remulla said.</p><p>Remulla also said he met with Japanese Embassy and International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) officials on their cooperation in the case.</p><p>He added that a “DNA bank” is being set up for the matching of the DNA of the bones retrieved against those of the relatives of the missing sabungeros.</p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/15/rov-deployed-in-search-for-missing-cockfighters-in-taal-lake-1626">ROV detects &#x27;suspicious object&#x27; in lakebed of Taal as search for &#x27;sabungeros&#x27; continues</a></div><p>“I just talked to the legal team quite ago, and we are looking for, looking at the cases that we are going to file, and some other little problems that have to be solved in the process,” Remulla also said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/15/napolcom-summons-12-cops-tagged-by-totoy-in-missing-sabungeros-case-1815">Napolcom summons 12 cops tagged by &#x27;Totoy&#x27; in missing &#x27;sabungeros&#x27; case</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PnSIZzwMZ-M?si=8DoDkO9V8JBtThlW" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday revealed that at least three bodies are being exhumed around Taal Lake in the continued search for the missing sabungeros.</p>

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday revealed that at least three bodies are being exhumed around Taal Lake in the continued search for the missing sabungeros.

Remulla: Authorities exhuming bodies as part of search for sabungeros

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Remulla: Authorities exhuming bodies as part of search for sabungeros

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 16, 2025 05:40 PM PHT

|

Updated Jul 16, 2025 07:55 PM PHT

Read More:

missing sabungeros

exhumation

Taal Lake

ABSnews

Boyign Remulla

Department of Justice

Jesus Crispin Remulla

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