The Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed on Thursday that no DNA profiles could be retrieved from bone fragments recovered from Taal Lake, dealing a blow to efforts to identify the remains possibly linked to missing individuals, including victims in the sabungeros case.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing at Camp Crame that the bone fragments, which were submerged in water for a prolonged period, were already too contaminated for viable DNA extraction.
“Accordingly, we could no longer extract any DNA profiles from the bones. It was already contaminated,” Fajardo stated, adding that the prolonged submersion posed a major challenge.
At least 91 bone fragments were retrieved from five separate sacks recovered from the lake earlier in July. Forty-five fragments were initially found on July 10, and 46 more were discovered in subsequent sacks on July 12. By July 15, the PNP Forensic Group determined that six of the fragments might be human.
Separately, authorities exhumed three bodies from a cemetery near Taal Lake, which yielded viable DNA samples — two male and one female. These were compared with DNA reference profiles from 23 families of missing sabungeros, but no matches were found.
The case drew renewed attention after whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan, also known as Alias Totoy, alleged in a GMA News interview that the missing cockfighting enthusiasts were murdered, tied to sandbags, and dumped into the lake. Despite intensive investigations, identification of the remains continues to elude authorities.
