Laurel: The contents of a sack found on the Laurel, Batangas side of Taal Lake are yet to be determined, with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) continuing its search for the alleged remains of the missing 'sabungeros' (cockfighting enthusiasts).

According to Philippines News Agency, PCG Spokesperson Capt. Noemie Cayabyab stated that validation and further investigation of suspicious objects found by PCG divers will be conducted by investigators of the Philippine National Police (PNP). In an online interview over One News PH, Cayabyab mentioned that the PCG cannot confirm at the moment if the contents are bones or if they are relevant to the investigation. Responsibility for determining and clarifying the findings lies with the PNP and other lead agencies.

A sack containing what appeared to be burned human bones was initially discovered in Taal Lake during a technical site assessment on Thursday. Following this, over 40 divers from the PCG conducted a second set of technical dives on Friday, uncovering sacks with suspicious contents in a part of Taal Lake in Laurel, Batangas.

In addition to divers, the PCG is deploying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to monitor the search area. An underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) is also expected to be deployed beginning Sunday to assist technical divers due to the murky and muddy characteristic of Taal Lake's depths, as explained by Cayabyab.

Earlier, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro mentioned that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is keen to determine if the recovered skeletal remains belong to the missing sabungeros and assured that the investigation will continue.