Jamaine Punzalan

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. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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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/175386090096520250715-missing-sabungero-taal-rov-MT6.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">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. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard found a skull in Taal Lake as the search for dozens of missing sabungeros continued, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Wednesday. </p><p>Remulla said dental records could help speed up the process of determining whether the skull found on Tuesday belonged to one of the missing cockfighting enthusiasts. </p><p>“Andoon ang ngipin eh, may ngipin na kasama. Hindi ko lang alam kung kasama iyong panga, iyong lower jaw. Pero yung upper teeth kasama so baka sakali, baka sakaling may makuha tayo,” Remulla said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/30/most-cops-in-missing-sabungeros-case-had-prior-admin-cases-ias-1441">Most cops in ‘missing sabungeros’ case had prior admin cases: IAS</a></div><p>He added that DNA testing, which could take longer, would still be done by the Philippine National Police.</p><p>The skull was found in the area identified through the statements of whistleblower Julie Patidongan.</p><p>“Talagang makikita mo talaga reliable ang sinasabi ng ating testigo na doon nga tinatambak, tinatapon o dinidispatsa ang mga labi ng mga taong pinapatay, marahil may mahahanap diyan na krimen hindi lang sa sabong, drug war at iba pang krimen na involved ang death squad na gumagawa ng trabaho,” Remulla said.</p><p>He confirmed that the police official who was relieved from his post following his request to PNP Chief General Nicolas Torre was in relation to a smear campaign against Patidongan.</p><p>Asked about the statements of families of the missing sabungeros that they were being asked to sign a document pointing to Patidongan as the mastermind, Remulla said the matter is linked to the relief of the official who is assigned at the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.</p><p>“Isang pangkat iyan dyan, kaya nga na-relieve iyonog service director ng CIDG, iyong sinasabi kong service director na hinihingi namin, iyan tinanggal na iyong service director ng CIDG,” Remulla said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/21/groups-tried-to-influence-probe-on-12-cops-tagged-in-missing-sabungeros-case-napolcom-1814">Groups tried to influence probe on 12 cops tagged in missing sabungeros case: Napolcom</a></div><p>The spate of mysterious 2022 disappearances in the country&#x27;s huge cockfighting industry erupted back into the public consciousness last month with the appearance of Patidongan, who claimed to know where bodies had been submerged in Lake Taal.</p><p>Since beginning the search on July 10, the Philippine Coast Guard has found several sacks at the bottom of the lake, some of which contained human bones. </p><p>Around 30 individuals were initially reported missing between 2021 and 2022 in connection with alleged game fixing in online cockfighting or e-sabong, though some claims suggest the number may be higher.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/28/marcos-gov-t-going-after-masterminds-in-missing-sabungeros-case-1709">Marcos: Gov’t going after masterminds in &#x27;missing sabungeros&#x27; case</a></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h7AMyYfczIU" title="SONA 2025 | Marcos warns those involved in missing sabungeros case | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zJBIT4G9ipw" title="Atong Ang tagged as mastermind in missing sabungeros case; tycoon&#x27;s camp answers | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Philippine Coast Guard found a skull in Taal Lake as the search for dozens of missing sabungeros continued, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Wednesday.</p>

The Philippine Coast Guard found a skull in Taal Lake as the search for dozens of missing sabungeros continued, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Wednesday.

Skull found in Taal Lake search for ‘missing sabungeros’

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Skull found in Taal Lake search for ‘missing sabungeros’

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 30, 2025 03:37 PM PHT

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Updated Aug 04, 2025 02:36 PM PHT

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