Malacañang has assured the public that there will be no cover-up in the case of the missing “sabungeros” (cockfight aficionados) after bones were recovered in Taal Lake, where the victims were allegedly dumped.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is determined to ascertain whether the recovered skeletal remains belong to the missing sabungeros. “Hindi po ito pababayaan. Hindi po magkakaroon ng cover-up. Tuloy-tuloy pa rin po ang pag-iimbestiga. Iyan po ang nais ng Pangulo (This will not be neglected. There will be no cover-up. The investigation will still continue. That is what the President wants),” Castro emphasized.
If the findings confirm that the remains match the DNA of any missing sabungeros, the President and his administration will assist the victims’ families in their pursuit of justice. “Sa Pangulo po, dapat po talaga ay mas alamin pa kung ito pong mga natagpuan ay talagang may kinalaman po sa nasabing kaso ng mga missing sabungeros (To the President, it is really necessary to find out more about whether these findings are really related to the case of the missing sabungeros),” she added.
A sack containing suspected human remains was discovered during a search conducted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and technical divers from the Philippine Coast Guard on Thursday. The DOJ has since turned the bones over to forensic experts for analysis. This search was prompted by whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan’s claim that the remains of the missing sabungeros were disposed of in Taal Lake.