Julia Christine Botin

Mom of missing sabungero hopes DNA matches human bones found in Taal Lake

Article (news)

David Dizon

The mother of one of the missing sabungeros allegedly killed and dumped in Taal Lake remains hopeful that one of the 91 human bones found in the lake would match the DNA of one of the relatives of the missing.A whistleblower earlier claimed <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/2/-not-just-30-whistleblower-says-100-sabungeros-gamblers-allegedly-killed-dumped-in-taal-lake-0744">more than 100 cockfighting enthusiasts</a> were killed and their bodies dumped in the lake for cheating in e-sabong games.Coast Guard divers have conducted retrieval operations in 2 of 4 possible sites where the bodies were  allegedly dumped, eventually retrieving at least 91 human bones. Bad weather, however, has hampered the operations in the past weeks.Eloisa Bohol, mother of missing sabungero Kiel Daniel Bohol, said 22 relatives of 34 missing sabungeros have already submitted their DNA to authorities to check if they match with the found bones.“22 pa lang ang na-D-DNA. E sinasabi ni Dondon [Patidongan] nasa 100 ang nilunod duon. Hopefully may mag match kahit isa…Sana may mag match,&quot; Bohol said in a DZMM interview.She also confirmed hearings rumors that a group of people reached a monetary settlement not to pursue the case but said this was before Patidongan came out as whistleblower.She denied that anyone in their group who filed multiple murder charges against several individuals being linked to the disappearances have been approached for a possible settlement or that they are entertaining such an option.“Makita man lang namin kahit gapatak na hustisya,” she said.

The mother of one of the missing sabungeros allegedly killed and dumped in Taal Lake remains hopeful that one of the 91 human bones found in the lake would match the DNA of one of the relatives of the missing.

The mother of one of the missing sabungeros allegedly killed and dumped in Taal Lake remains hopeful that one of the 91 human bones found in the lake would match the DNA of one of the relatives of the missing.