PCG dismisses 'tanim-sako' claims in missing sabungeros case; forensic pathologist criticizes handling of 'potential evidence'

The Philippine Coast Guard dismissed claims that the retrieved sacks containing suspected human skeletal remains were planted at the bottom of Taal Lake amid the search for the missing sabungeros who were allegedly dumped there. 

“Itinatanggi ito ng PCG," spokesperson Captain Noemi Cayabyab said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday, July 13. "Ang layunin ng bawat diving operations namin ay makapagbigay ng hustisya at katotohanan. Nawa'y mawala ang mga ganitong espekulasyon dahil bawat sisid ng PCG, buhay nila ang nakataya."

The agency also explained that the contents of the sacks had to be transferred to new ones because of their already fragile condition.

"The reason why we put a secondary protection doon sa ano, para hindi siya tuluyang malaglag while umaangat 'yung divers natin sa ganoon kalalim na depth ng water," PCG District Southern Tagalog Commander Geronimo Tuvilla told reporters on Saturday, July 12. "Common sense lang naman iyon na 'pag inangat mo at may opening, it might fall out. Hindi natin mapepreserve 'yung integridad ng mga nakukuha natin sa bottom."

"Hindi lupa itong operation. Tubig ito," he added.

In any case, Tuvilla said the criticisms surrounding the missing sabungeros is "normal."

“Sabi nga nila, we cannot please everyone," GMA News quoted Tuvilla as saying. "Basta kaming PCG, katuwang ang Philippine National Police at Department of Justice, tuloy-tuloy lang namin gagawin yung trabaho namin professionally, diligently, and properly."

To date, PCG divers have retrieved five sacks, two of which may contain human bones. One sack had charred bones, while two others were filled with stones.

Tuvilla noted that the sacks with stones have holes, with the stones being sharp and pointed.

He reiterated previous beliefs that they may have been used as sinkers in the perceived dumping of the missing sabungeros.

"We cannot say much about that, and investigation side na 'yung magdedetermine," he added.

Cayabyab, meanwhile, told dzBB that the sacks were near each other.

“Halos 20 meters lang. Masinsin ang ating diving operation. We make a good search pattern just to make sure na wala tayong malalagpasan,” she said.

Among the challenges the PCG divers were facing were the murky and muddy waters of Taal Lake.

But their diving operations will continue as long as they retrieve anything.

“Nakadepende rin ang tagal ng diving operation sa weather, current, at alert level ng Taal Volcano,” Cayabyab added.

Forensic pathologist on handling of the sacks

Forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun expressed dismay over how the PCG handled the sacks, noting that they are "potential evidence" that their contents are human skeletal remains.

"Suspicion pa lang ito. Hindi pa ito confirmed, but treat those sacks as evidence, potential evidence," she told TV5.

In particular, Fortun criticized one of the photos shared by the PCG showing the sack's contents in the open and emptied on the ground.

"You're not supposed to do that," she said.

Fortun noted that while one may check the sacks' contents with gloves "if you really have to," the best move is to put them in a body bag.

"Dalhin mo na sa morgue, dalhin mo na sa lab," she said, adding that if she were the one handling the sacks, the first thing she'd do is x-ray the contents, as it would easily determine whether the bones belong to an animal or a human.

"It's actually even better than kinakapa-kapa 'yung bones," she added. "To answer this basic question: Are there bones inside? Are they human? Ang dali lang."

For Fortun, it's also not wise to mix up the suspected bones, as they may be from different people.

As regards an adult human fitting into the sack, she noted that it's not feasible. "Pagkatapos patayin, hiniwalay ba? Pinutol-putol? Nagdecompose, naturally disarticulated, tapos cinollect 'yung remains?"

While it's possible that the dark bones were due to burning, Fortun noted that the color may have also been due to the mud underneath.

"At this point, wala akong alam," she said. "But 'yung mud, madaling hugasan 'yan. And that's another thing that you're going to do at the lab, not at the sea."

Nevertheless, Fortun said it's difficult to get the DNA of a charred bone as the fire destroys it.

Dumping ground

Over 30 technical divers were deployed on July 11, a day after authorities found a sack containing allegedly burnt human bones in the areas in Laurel that whistleblower Dondon Patidongan, alias "Totoy," claimed to be a dumping ground for the missing sabungeros.

Patidongan tagged businessman Atong Ang and actress Gretchen Barretto as among the persons allegedly behind the abductions of missing sabungeros. He accused them, as well as Eric Dela Rosa and Celso Salazar, of being the masterminds in the case of not just 34 but over 100 missing sabungeros.

The whistleblower, who said he has been working for Ang for 15 years as the chief of security of his farms and cockfight areas, alleged that Ang is the pit master's chairman. "Siya ang mastermind, at siya ang nag-uutos na talagang iligpit ang mga 'yan," he said in his interview with GMA's 24 Oras.

While he's one of the six accused in the case, Patidongan asserted that he was merely following orders from Ang.

He also claimed that Barretto was fully aware of Ang's operations in the cockfight arena. “One hundred percent na may kinalaman siya dahil lagi silang magkasama ni Mr. Atong Ang,” he said. 

In response, Ang filed cases against Patidongan and another whistleblower, Alan Bantiles, also known as "Brown," who had also tagged him in the case.

Denying the allegations in a July 3 press conference, Ang said, "Wala naman kaming history na pumapatay ng tao—paano mangyayari 'yan?" 

His camp, in a statement, called the accusations against him "entirely false, baseless, and malicious."

"He categorically and unequivocally denies any involvement in the alleged unlawful, heinous, and criminal acts that have recently been reported and linked to him," it read.

Barretto, through her legal counsel, also denied involvement in the case, noting she "has no relevant knowledge" about the disappearances.

"She did not operate the sabungan, had no participation in e-sabong operations that was suspended more than two years ago, and was merely an investor in the business (one of about 20 investors categorized as alpha members)," her lawyer said. "She attended no meetings where approvals were sought nor given to implement the disappearances. The proposition is so absurd, it is plain invention. Ms. Barretto regrets that she is being crucified without basis, and has become the subject of unsavory speculation based on rumor."

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, meanwhile, said that Barretto and Ang will be included in the list of suspects, and formal cases will be filed against them soon.

"Because they were named, then we will have to include them as suspects,” said Remulla in an interview.