Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said Friday he has asked for Japan&#x27;s technical assistance to help the search for dozens of cockfighting participants allegedly killed by rogue police and dumped in a lake south of Manila.The case is tied to a spate of mysterious disappearances in 2022 in the Southeast Asian nation&#x27;s huge cockfighting industry, known locally as &quot;sabong&quot;.Interest in the unsolved cases has surged since the televised appearance of a witness -- since identified as Julie &quot;Dondon&quot; Patidongan, a recent mayoral candidate -- who claimed to know where bodies had been submerged in Lake Taal.Remulla said Friday he now had multiple witnesses who could &quot;testify where (in the water) those missing persons were thrown&quot;.He added that a group of 15 unnamed national police officers were under investigation and put on restricted duty.&quot;They carried out the executions,&quot; he said.&quot;I just signed a letter for the Japanese government asking for assistance to enable us to do a lakebed mapping and... other technology that we need,&quot; Remulla added.&quot;We need a scientific approach here. We cannot leave it to chance.&quot;Located about two hours south of the capital, Taal Lake is home to an active island volcano and spans more than 230 square kilometres (89 square miles) with a depth of 172 metres (564 feet) in some places.Patidongan initially appeared in silhouette in an interview on local television before later revealing himself, saying he feared for his life.He has identified Charlie Ang, a man involved in livestreamed cockfighting operations, as the mastermind behind the disappearances.Ang has denied all charges and on Thursday filed a lawsuit accusing Patidongan, a former employee, of slander, threats and conspiracy to commit robbery.The justice department made a series of arrests in late 2022 of police and security personnel allegedly involved with the disappearance of 34 cockfight industry participants that Remulla said were &quot;probably dead&quot;.Since his televised appearance, Patidongan has claimed the actual number could be as high as 100.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.The sport, banned in many other countries, survived coronavirus pandemic restrictions by going online, drawing many more gamblers who use their mobile phones to place wagers.Former president Rodrigo Duterte banned the livestreaming of cockfights shortly before leaving office in 2022, but it has continued due to lax enforcement.<div>KIN SEEK UPDATES ON MISSING RELATIVES</div>Families of the missing cockfight enthusiasts met with the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at Camp Crame on Friday to seek updates.Brigadier General Romeo Macapaz, director of the CIDG, confirmed that he would meet with the families but declined to provide media with details of the discussion.Maricel Ramos, relative of one of the 34 missing men, said they initiated the coordination in hopes of holding a conference with the CIDG and the Department of Justice.She said they want authorities to search Taal Lake for the remains of the victims allegedly dumped there, as revealed in media interviews by Patidongan.“Tanggap na po namin na wala na ‘yong anak namin. Kahit buto lang po ng anak namin, makita namin,” Ramos said.Asked if they ever get tired, Aurelio Panaligan replied: “Hindi po. Kasi po naghahanap kami ng hustisya.”“Galing pa kaming Quezon, kahapon pa po kami ng tanghali,” he said. “’Yon pong proseso talaga pong… oras, panahon, sakripisyo po.”Another parent, Francisca de Luna Ramos, could not contain her anguish over the slow pace of justice.“Humihingi po ako ng hustisya para sa aking anak para po magkaroon ng linaw. Napakatagal na pong nawawala ang aking anak. Para po sa akin, humihingi po ako ng tulong para po makita man lang kahit buto man lang, para maiuwi sa amin,” she said.“Bakit naman po ganon po, napakasakit po para sa akin. Para naman pong hayop na pinatay ang aking anak. Wala naman pong magulang na itataboy ang anak,” she added.

Remulla said Friday he now had multiple witnesses who could "testify where (in the water) those missing persons were thrown".

Remulla said Friday he now had multiple witnesses who could "testify where (in the water) those missing persons were thrown".

Philippines asks Japan's help searching lake for missing cockfighters

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Philippines asks Japan's help searching lake for missing cockfighters

Agence France-Presse,

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 04, 2025 04:13 PM PHT

|

Updated Jul 04, 2025 04:14 PM PHT

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ABSnews

DOJ

sabungero

cockfight

Crispin Remulla

Atong Ang

ANC

crime

murder

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