DOJ's Remulla says human skull found in Taal Lake amid missing sabungeros search
Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said a human skull has been found in Taal Lake amid ongoing efforts to search for the missing sabungeros, who were allegedly dumped there.
“One set of skeletal remains was found, including a human skull with upper teeth,” The Philippine STAR quoted Remulla as saying.
Remulla is hopeful that the remains contain sufficient DNA for identification.
“We can see that the testimony of the witness is reliable; that the bodies of murdered sabungeros were dumped in the lake,” he said.
According to Remulla, Taal Lake could have also been used as a dumping ground during the Duterte administration's war on drugs. Based on the government's "Real Numbers" data, a total of 6,229 individuals were killed during anti-drug operations from July 1, 2016, to Jan. 31, 2022. Rights groups, however, estimated that the number of deaths from the bloody anti-narcotics campaign reached as high as 27,000.
Remulla said investigators are finalizing the affidavits, and complaints may be filed soon.
The Internal Affairs Service, a Philippine National Police independent body that investigates misconduct inside, said over 12 officers charged in connection with the missing sabungeros case had previously faced administrative complaints.
IAS inspector general Brigido Dulay said authorities are still determining whether those past cases are linked to the sabungeros’ disappearance.
“We haven’t matched those records to the sabungeros’ case. But given their number and nature, we doubt the earlier complaints are directly connected,” Dulay said.
All 12 officers are currently facing administrative charges filed by the National Police Commission over the alleged abduction and disappearance of the sabungeros.
In any case, Dulay warned against solely relying on extrajudicial statements, referring to Patidongan's claims.
“As a lawyer, I believe it’s hard to rely on that kind of statement unless it’s turned into a formal affidavit. Statements not made under oath hold less evidentiary value,” he said.
Remulla recently stated that a new witness would come forward to present "real evidence" that's expected to strengthen Patidongan's credibility.
Missing sabungeros case
Whistleblower Dondon 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.
Patidongan, 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, he 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.
Barretto, through her legal counsel, also denied involvement in the case, noting she "has no relevant knowledge" about the disappearances.
Remulla, at the time, said Barretto and Ang would still be included in the list of suspects, and formal cases would be filed against them soon.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., in his fourth State of the Nation Address, vowed that the government is working to solve the case of the missing sabungeros.
"Hahabulin at pananagutin natin ang mga utak at mga sangkot, sibilyan man o opisyal. Kahit malakas, mabigat, o mayaman, hindi sila mangingibabaw sa batas," he said. "Higit sa lahat, ipararamdam natin sa mga salarin ang bigat ng parusa sa karumal-dumal na krimen na mga ito."
