Joselito Malig

The Philippine Coast Guard, in coordination with local authorities and disaster response teams, deploys a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to aid in the ongoing search for the missing sabungero in Taal Lake, Laurel, Batangas, on July 15, 2025. The equipment scans deeper and hard-to-reach areas of the lake, where poor visibility and strong currents continue to challenge divers. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

MISSING SABUNGEROS- TAAL SEARCH

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said two sacks containing human remains and two sacks containing sand acting as weight were recovered Thursday in Taal Lake as the search for the missing sabungeros continued.Remulla said human ribs were found inside the sacks containing remains.&quot;Two sacks were found and we don’t know how many people it belong to, ito iyong cursory examination, that there are human remains,” Remulla said.Remulla stressed that the specific area where the recovery was made by the Philippine Coast Guard bolsters the narration of whistleblower Julie Patidongan. He noted that boatmen who were identified by Patidongan pointed to the specific area.“Iyong today, nahanap sa quadrant na iyon sa Taal Lake is a positive indication that he knew what he was talking about kasi nga andito nahanap, apat na sako iyan, dalawang sakong buhangin at dalawang sako containing remains,” Remulla said.Meantime, Remulla said that two of the three exhumed remains at the Laurel public cemetery were wearing female underwear and basketball jersey. “Iyong isa parang female, nahanapan ng underwear ng babae sa isang sako so lumalabas talaga, mayroong report about a woman who was abducted in Lipa before,” Remulla said.Remulla noted that the bodies were supposedly buried in the cemetery in 2020 after being found floating from Taal Lake.  Remulla said information about the remains of the female individual came from Patidongan.“Kasama sa pahayag niya iyan na in Lipa there was a pregnant woman, iyon ang nakikita naming possibility,” Remulla said.While the reported missing sabungeros went missing from 2021 to 2022, Remulla said that even if the exhumed remains were buried in 2020, their circumstances were still related to e-sabong. “Ito mukhang e-sabong ito, sa Lipa nakuha,” Remulla said.As to the activity of Taal Volcano on Thursday, Remulla said the diving operations will have to be suspended upon the advice of the Philipppine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. “Well, pag hindi healthy— kung ito ay magiging balikad sa health ng tao tigil muna, Phivolcs will advise us kung ano, kung safe or hindi,” Remulla said.<script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABcbyf9247HFCCG7"></script><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABcbMokqKOCQ5r1Z"></script>

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said two sacks containing human remains and two sacks containing sand acting as weight were recovered Thursday in Taal Lake as the search for the missing sabungeros continued.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said two sacks containing human remains and two sacks containing sand acting as weight were recovered Thursday in Taal Lake as the search for the missing sabungeros continued.

DOJ: Human ribs found in Taal Lake search for sabungeros

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DOJ: Human ribs found in Taal Lake search for sabungeros

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 17, 2025 05:32 PM PHT

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Updated July 18, 2025 08:52 AM PHT

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Taal lake

sabong

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missing sabungero

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