Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177995290414520250711-missing-sabungero-soco-MT2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) secure a body bag containing a suspected cadaver recovered inside a sack during the second day of search operations in Taal Lake, Laurel, Batangas, on Friday, July 11, 2025. Authorities are investigating its possible link to the case of the missing sabungeros. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Philippine National Police’s forensic group on Thursday said it had already gathered at least 2,000 bones from Taal Lake as the search for the alleged remains of missing cockfight enthusiasts (sabungeros) believed to have been dumped there continues.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/25/missing-sabungeros-families-deny-bribery-claims-after-meeting-with-atong-ang-camp-1715">Missing sabungeros’ families deny bribery claims after meeting with Atong Ang camp</a></div><p>PNP Forensic Group Director Col. Pierre Paul Carpio said DNA extracted from the bones is undergoing cross-matching with the DNA of the missing individuals.</p><p>“Continuous ang ating examination sa mga ito, and then, we will have a comprehensive results, reports with regards to matching ng mga DNA natin,” he told ABS-CBN News on the sidelines of the unit’s 81st anniversary event at Camp Crame.</p><p>Carpio, however, refused to disclose if anyone had already been identified, noting the challenges involved in the cross-matching process.</p><p>“Unang una, buto ito — ito ang pinaka-mahirap na parte ng katawan na kinukuhaan ng DNA at maproseso,” he said.</p><p>Earlier, whistleblower Julie Patidongan, the former aide of gambling operator Atong Ang, claimed that the victims were abducted and killed at a slaughterhouse near a fishpond in Laurel, Batangas.</p><p>He alleged that the victims, some of whom were supposedly involved in game-fixing, were later dumped in Taal Lake.</p><p>At least 34 individuals associated with online cockfighting vanished in separate incidents between 2021 and 2022.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><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/NJM6hVeODoM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/aR1sLXgMRD4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The PNP’s forensic group said it had already gathered at least 2,000 bones from Taal Lake as the search for the alleged remains of missing sabungeros believed to have been dumped there continues.</p>

The PNP’s forensic group said it had already gathered at least 2,000 bones from Taal Lake as the search for the alleged remains of missing sabungeros believed to have been dumped there continues.

2,000 bones recovered from Taal Lake in missing sabungeros probe—PNP forensics

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2,000 bones recovered from Taal Lake in missing sabungeros probe—PNP forensics

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 28, 2026 03:23 PM PHT

Read More:

missing sabungeros

PNP

Forensic Group

Taal Lake

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