Manila: Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III on Monday announced his directive to expedite the transfer of items retrieved from Taal Lake to Camp Aguinaldo for forensic examination. This order aims to investigate whether the items found in five sacks by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) divers are the remains of missing sabungeros, or cockfighting enthusiasts.
According to Philippines News Agency, the directive was issued to the PNP crime laboratory in Calabarzon to ensure a swift transition of the process. Gen. Torre emphasized the urgent need to move the operations area forward to facilitate the fast transport and processing of the remains discovered by scuba divers. During a press conference at Camp Crame, Torre highlighted the importance of this accelerated operation.
PNP spokesperson Birg. Gen. Jean Fajardo disclosed that DNA samples have been secured from 12 relatives of the missing sabungeros. The outcome of the forensic examination could potentially confirm the deaths of the cockfighting enthusiasts. Fajardo noted that a positive DNA match would mark a significant breakthrough in the case, validating earlier suspicions regarding the fate of the 34 missing individuals.
The PCG resumed its retrieval operations on Monday, employing a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to aid in the search. The operations, which commenced last Thursday, have already resulted in the recovery of five sacks, one of which is suspected to contain charred human bodies. These items were discovered approximately 10 meters off the shore of Barangay Balakilong in Laurel, Batangas.
The search efforts were initiated following claims by suspect Julie Patidongan, alias 'Totoy', who alleged that the victims were strangled with a tie wire before being disposed of in the lake. In a related development, Torre expressed support for Patidongan's decision to file a complaint affidavit with the National Police Commission (Napolcom) against police officers allegedly involved in the case. Torre emphasized the need for Patidongan's affirmation to proceed with administrative actions against the implicated officers.
