The Batangas provincial government does not know of any murder victims dumped in Taal Lake, according to Governor Hermilando Mandanas.
In an exclusive interview with the Manila Standard, he stated that in 2021, when the “missing sabungeros” were supposed to have been buried in the sprawling volcanic lake, the provincial government was preoccupied with other concerns.
“I have not heard any complaints… in the provincial peace and order, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has not reported anything. There was no problem, don’t forget COVID just ended, so our concern was really recovery from COVID,” said Mandanas.
The governor noted that he is not aware of any trouble that took place in the province arising from e-sabong operations, he added.
“What I only know is that it destroys the lives of many Filipinos,” he stressed.
Mandanas also pointed out that the Taal Lake is not under the management of the province but of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) under the National Integrated Protected Areas System.
“Everything there, if you want to build a house… or you want to build fish cages, you will ask them for a permit. They are the guardians [of Taal Lake]. The governor and the local government units (LGUs) are just members,” he said.
Diving and/or suspected activities that may cause pollution is under the watch of the DENR, according to him.
Meanwhile, Cuenca Mayor Alexander Magpantay shared that it is improbable for its coastal barangays to be a site for the said activity due to its geographical location.
“Our barangay is far behind Mt. Maculot so before bringing it to us, it will be taken to another [town] first… I think it will be difficult for them to drop or place it in our coastal barangay because of our location,” he said in Filipino.
Cuenca is a town on the southern coast of Taal Lake.
