The recovered bones from Taal Lake were a mix of human and animal remains, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III said as 12 family members of the missing “sabungeros” already gave DNA specimens for cross-matching.
“The bones were mixed. As you know, there are farms in the area. So, some of the bones we recovered were animal remains. Some were human remains,” Torre said on Monday.
“Part of the processing we have to do is to differentiate which bones are of animal origin and which ones are of human origin,” he added.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said they are waiting for the official result of the forensic exam to see if the human bones recovered match the DNA of the relatives of the disappeared “sabungeros.”
According to suspect turned whistleblower Julie Patidongan, some 34 cockfighting enthusiasts who have been reported missing from 2021 to 2022 were dumped in Taal Lake.
He named businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang as one of the masterminds in the case and linked actress Gretchen Barretto to the disappearances. Both have denied the allegations.
For his part, National Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime Santiago told Manila Standard the NBI is ready to extend forensic assistance in examining the bones found in Taal Lake.
He said he has ordered the NBI Forensic and Scientific Research Service (FSRS) to coordinate with the Department of Justice.
The Philippine Coast Guard assured the continued and thorough search for the missing “sabungeros” using the “jackstay” search method.
“We will continue with our diving operations, and we will just wait for the advice on when to terminate from the lead agency, the DOJ,” PCG spokesperson Capt. Noemie Cayabyab said.
To ensure a thorough search and aid divers through the murky depths of Taal Lake, the PCG is utilizing the diving jackstay search method, which involves the use of several jackstays or guidelines to create a search grid.
In addition, she said divers are being deployed in locations suggested by intelligence from the DOJ and other law enforcement partners.
“Just imagine how wide Taal Lake is – it would take years for our divers to complete their search. So, it’s better when someone gives us a possible location,” she said.
Another operational challenge is the lake’s depth, which ranges from 50 to 70 feet, necessitating the deployment of hyperbaric doctors to monitor divers for decompression sickness.
The PCG is also set to deploy a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) capable of reaching 1,000 feet to aid in the search.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “PNP Forensics Group to analyze bones retrieved from Taal Lake”
