Camille Naredo

Fisherfolk return to their normal activities at the Taal lake in Talisay, Batangas on Saturday, September 23, 2023, as the volcanic smog from Taal volcano clears due to the rains. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

TAAL

Bianca Dava

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/175196495196820230922-taal-lake-vog-MT-6.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Fisherfolk return to their normal activities at the Taal lake in Talisay, Batangas on Saturday, September 23, 2023, as the volcanic smog from Taal volcano clears due to the rains. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Fisherfolk return to their normal activities at the Taal lake in Talisay, Batangas on Saturday, September 23, 2023, as the volcanic smog from Taal volcano clears due to the rains. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- The Philippine Navy on Tuesday once again expressed its readiness to assist in the planned retrieval of the remains of the missing &quot;sabungeros&quot; or cockfighting enthusiasts, who were reportedly dumped in Taal Lake in Batangas.</p><p>Captain John Percie Alcos, spokesperson of the Philippine Navy, said the Naval Special Operations Command (NAVSOCOM) can immediately be deployed once the Department of Justice (DOJ) gives the go-ahead for the retrieval operation.</p><p>&quot;We are still waiting for the official request or for assistance from the Department of Justice. Because as I&#x27;ve mentioned repeatedly in most of the interviews that we&#x27;ve conducted, the Naval Special Operations Command, the elite unit of the Philippine Navy, can be dispatched anytime, anywhere,&quot; Alcos told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/7/search-in-taal-lake-for-missing-sabungeros-starts-this-week-remulla-1709">READ: Search in Taal Lake for missing sabungeros starts this week -- Remulla</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/7/nbi-offers-technical-expertise-to-aid-in-missing-sabungeros-case-probe-1653">READ: NBI offers technical expertise to aid in missing sabungeros case probe</a></div><p>Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, who is also a Navy SEAL, explained that there are several methods to look for and recover targets underwater.</p><p>One of the most effective methods is the use of underwater drones, he added.</p><p>The drones can help assess water conditions, potential hazards, and the underwater environment.</p><p>&quot;Before sending the diver, we could send underwater drones to check on the safety,&quot; Trinidad said.</p><p>&quot;We have drones that could go down up to 100 meters… There are different types of drones available to be able to check the underwater surface. It&#x27;s already available today,&quot; he continued.</p><p>The official emphasized that in the case of the missing sabungeros, the last option will be to send down the technical divers.</p><p>&quot;When we do diving, we have to look at a lot of technical criteria. Number one, this is not the normal diving at sea level. This is on an elevated… Mas mataas &#x27;yong kaniyang elevation. Secondly, the sediments or decomposition of the water. Thirdly, kung madilim diyan, we&#x27;re not sure of the underwater environment,&quot; Trinidad said. </p><p>&quot;Today, we could already send out drones to check out. We could even retrieve underwater objects without sending any diver.&quot;</p><p>&quot;The moment we find what we have to recover, whether it&#x27;s an object or a cadaver, we could attach the connecting points to them and lift them up without sending any diver,&quot; he added.</p><p>According to Trinidad, the Philippine Navy can deploy three technical teams for the operation. Each team is composed of four people: two divers, one standby diver and one diving supervisor.</p><p>Philippine authorities have confirmed that at least 34 &quot;sabungeros&quot; disappeared in 2021 and 2022.</p><p>On Monday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the search for the missing &quot;sabungeros&quot; or cockfight enthusiasts in Taal Lake will start this week. The Philippine Coast Guard, among other government agencies, will be asked for assistance following the statement of accused Julie Patidongan that the victims were buried in the lake. </p><p>The Department of Science and Technology previously said that the bones of the missing cockfight enthusiasts may still be recovered in Taal Lake  -- if their bodies were really dumped there.</p><p>The National Bureau of Investigation on Monday also offered its &quot;technical expertise&quot; into the investigation, including the use of lie detector tests and DNA analysis.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UOjP2UZ_TDo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad explained that there are several methods to look for and recover targets underwater -- including the use of drones.</p>

Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad explained that there are several methods to look for and recover targets underwater -- including the use of drones.

Underwater drones ready to help in retrieval of missing sabungeros' remains: Navy

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Underwater drones ready to help in retrieval of missing sabungeros' remains: Navy

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 08, 2025 04:58 PM PHT

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Philippine Navy

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