'Sacks of sabungero bones' planted? PCG reacts

A spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard reacted Monday to rumors that sacks of alleged human remains found in Taal Lake in Batangas were planted.

PCG spokesperson Captain Noemie Guirao-Cayabyab said it was disheartening to hear allegations that authorities would plant evidence to support a whistleblower’s claims that more than 100 cockfighting aficionados were killed and their bodies dumped in the lake.

“Nakakalungkot ‘yung ganyang mga allegations. Again in our everyday operations, we are compromising the lives of our technical divers so we are just here to support the lead agency and of course bigyan ng hustisya sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng ganitong ebidensya para mailbaas ‘yang katotohanan,” she said in a DZMM interview.

Authorities have found at least 5 sacks weighted down by rocks allegedly containing bones during retrieval operations in Taal Lake since last week.

The PCG spokesperson refused to give a timeline on the actual verification of what was contained in the sacks, saying the forensic examination is being handled by Scene of the Crime Operatives. 

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III, however, confirmed both human and animal remains were found in Taal Lake.

The PCG is deploying 49 divers split into 2 teams to conduct the retrieval operations in Taal Lake on Day 4 of the search. Retrieval operations usually last about an hour and a half in the morning to maximize the light.

“We are maximizing the dive habang maganda ang panahon,” she said. 

Taal Lake, the third largest lake in the Philippines with a depth of 172 meters, is surrounded by the towns of Agoncillo, San Nicolas, Balete, Alitagtag, Cuenca, Mataasnakahoy, Lipa City, Tanauan City, Santa Teresita, Talisay, and Laurel.