Something very serious is happening in the Philippines. A group of people who loved cockfighting, called sabungeros, mysteriously disappeared years ago. Now, the government is working hard to finally find out what really happened to them.
On Thursday morning, a team of expert divers was sent to Taal Lake in Batangas to begin a special mission. They are searching the deep waters near Club Balai Isabel in Talisay, hoping to find the bodies of the missing men.
This important operation is being led by the Department of Justice (DOJ), with help from the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
According to the DOJ, this dive is just the beginning. “We need to see what the area looks like underwater so we can make a better plan,” they said.
The Shocking Confession
The reason for the dive? A man named Julie “Totoy” Patidongan, who admitted he helped in the kidnapping of the sabungeros, told the police something horrifying: he said the bodies were dumped in a fishpond area in Taal Lake.
But that’s not all. Patidongan also revealed something even more shocking — he believes that as many as 108 people may have been killed. That’s way more than the 34 missing people that officials were originally investigating.
More Places, More Clues
Police are now searching other areas too. Based on tips from new witnesses, they believe the bodies might have been thrown away in several locations, not just Taal Lake.
General Nicolas Torre III, a high-ranking police officer, said teams have been sent to Batangas, Laguna, and parts of Metro Manila. He said the missing men were possibly killed because of cheating in online cockfighting games, a form of illegal gambling.
Police Under Watch
Right now, 15 police officers are being closely watched. They are suspected of being involved in the kidnapping and killing of the sabungeros. Patidongan, the man who confessed, is also under protective custody to keep him safe while he helps with the case.
This case has been unsolved since 2021, and families of the missing men are still waiting for answers. With divers finally going into the water, everyone is hoping the truth will finally come to the surface.
