US EditionSack of Bones, Duterte Drug War Add to Growing Philippine Cock Fighters Mystery
TAAL LAKE, PHILIPPINES, JUL 11 – Authorities deepen investigation into bones found during search for 10 missing sabungeros amid allegations involving prominent figures, officials say the case remains unresolved.
- On July 10 and 11, 2025, Philippine authorities recovered sacks containing suspected burnt human bones from Lake Taal during the official search for missing cockfighting participants known as sabungeros.
- The search followed witness claims that over 30 sabungeros were executed and dumped in the lake due to alleged match-fixing linked to a cockfighting ring, with a former aide accusing businessman Charlie 'Atong' Ang as mastermind.
- Technical divers from the Philippine Coast Guard began retrieval operations amid challenges posed by the lake’s depth, while the Department of Justice and police conducted inspections to confirm if the remains are human and connected to the disappearances.
- Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla stated that several witnesses can pinpoint the whereabouts of those who are missing, while National Police Chief Nicolas Torre highlighted the need for prompt action due to the approaching typhoon season.
- Authorities have initiated forensic and DNA testing to confirm the identities of the remains, with officials expressing that this finding may mark a major development, bringing renewed hope for clarity and resolution to the loved ones of the missing sabungeros.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Sack of bones, Duterte drug war add to growing Philippine cock fighters mystery
Three sacks weighted with sandbags recovered from the depths of a Philippine volcanic crater lake have added a dramatic new twist to the chilling case of at least 34 missing cock fighters, bolstering claims by a whistle-blower that the killings were orchestrated by a gambling tycoon with powerful political and police connections. The first sack, pulled from the murky waters of Taal Lake on Thursday, contained charred bones, according to the Depa…
Whistleblower in missing 'sabungeros' case dares Ang, Reyes to take lie detector tests
MANILA, Philippines — A whistleblower in the case of the missing sabungeros challenged businessman Charlie "Atong" Ang and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chairman and retired judge Felix Reyes to undergo lie detector tests regarding the disappearances of the 34 cockfighting enthusiasts.Julie "Totoy" Patidongan dared the two as authorities recovered potential human remains in Taal Lake - the very location Patidongan claimed victims …
Several more sacks, the contents of which are still unknown, were found by divers from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) at the bottom of Taal Lake in search of the remains of fishermen who were allegedly killed and thrown into the lake.
INQToday: Taal search for missing ‘sabungeros’ yields bones
Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories: Palace confirms Marcos will fly to US for a bilateral meeting with Trump Malacañang on Friday confirmed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will be in Washington, United States from July 20 to 22. This was announced by Palace Press Officer Claire Castro at a briefing. Taal search for missing ‘sabungeros’ yields bones The police and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday found suspected human r…
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