The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) discovered more sacks at the bottom of Taal Lake on Friday, July 11, during the first day of full-scale diving operations in the ongoing search for missing sabungeros.
Over 30 technical divers were deployed by the PCG after an initial site assessment on Thursday. They were tasked to search areas reportedly used as dumping sites for the cockfighting enthusiasts who vanished nearly three years ago.
Among the recovered items was a white sack containing burned bones, found near the shoreline. These remains are currently undergoing forensic analysis to determine if they are human and if they could be linked to the missing individuals.
Captain Noemie Cayabyab, PCG spokesperson, said their divers are fully equipped for the operation. “Well-prepared po ang ating technical divers. Kumpleto po sila sa equipment na kakailanganin at bukod po diyan, mayroon din po tayong inaasahan na pagdating isang underwater remote operated vehicle,” she told DZBB 594.
(Our technical divers are well-prepared. They have all the necessary equipment, and we are also expecting the arrival of an underwater remotely operated vehicle.)
According to the Department of Justice, a sandbag was reportedly tied to the sacks to ensure they would sink to the lakebed. To deal with the lake’s murky conditions and challenging depth of 30 to 40 meters, the PCG is preparing to deploy a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) capable of diving up to 1,000 feet and retrieving objects.
“So kung meron po tayong makikita na suspicious na items na maaaring makatulong sa ating imbestigasyon, makakatulong po itong ROV,” Cayabyab added.
(So if we spot any suspicious items that could help with the investigation, the ROV will be a big help.)
DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano expressed hope that the Japanese government could assist by lending advanced equipment to further aid underwater visibility in the murky lake.
Weather conditions and volcanic activity remain additional concerns. Taal Volcano’s unrest, along with possible incoming storms, means dive teams must assess safety before each operation. Despite these, the PCG has mapped out a focused 100-by-100-meter search grid, narrowing the effort to more promising locations.
PCG Southern Tagalog Commodore Geronimo Tuvilla emphasized the importance of treating every discovery as potential evidence. “Once malocate namin ang isang kaduda-dudang bagay, kailangan nandun din sila [crime investigators],” he told DZMM.
(Once we locate a suspicious item, the crime investigators need to be there as well.)
Divers are instructed to mark any suspicious findings and report them to investigators before removing anything from the lakebed.
The renewed search follows explosive claims from Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, a self-proclaimed whistleblower who alleged that the sabungeros were murdered and dumped in the lake. He also implicated gaming personality Atong Ang in the disappearance.
