‘Sabungeros’ case: 163 specimens tested but still no DNA match
A total of 401 pieces of human skeletal remains have been recovered from Taal Lake as part of the investigation into the case of the missing “sabungeros,” an official of the Department of Justice reported on Wednesday.
But only 163 pieces, or less than half of the specimens, were deemed still usable for forensic examination and none had so far found a match with DNA samples taken from the missing persons’ relatives, according to the police official in charge of the tests.
Citing data from the Philippine National Police Forensic Group, Justice Assistant Secretary Eliseo Cruz gave an update on the case in a hearing of the House committee on human rights on Wednesday.
“From July 10 up to present, based on the records of the PNP Forensic Group, 401 pieces of human skeletal remains have been recovered from 17 different locations by the Philippine Coast Guard,” Cruz said.
“The recovered sacks containing the human skeletal remains are usually tied to or attached to sacks of sand that served as sinkers. Each sinker sandbag is of the size [of a] 25-kilogram rice sack,” he added.
Cross-matching
At the same hearing, PNP Forensic Group director Brig. Gen. Danilo Bacas said 163 pieces had undergone cross-matching examination with the DNA samples collected from 29 relatives of the missing sabungeros.
The rest of the pieces of bone could no longer be used since they had already deteriorated, Bacas added.
“None so far,” the PNP official replied when asked if any of the recovered remains has matched the DNA samples from the relatives.
The case stemmed from the disappearance of at least 34 people involved in various capacities in the cockfighting industry between April 2021 and January 2022.
Revived probe
The search for their whereabouts had gone cold, until Julie Patidongan, one of the six men earlier charged with the abductions and later granted bail, began giving media interviews last month.
Patidongan claimed that the victims were abducted and strangled for engaging in match fixing or cheating. His revelation that the bodies were dumped in Taal Lake in Batangas province prompted the search.
Patidongan tagged his former boss, gambling tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang, as the mastermind. Ang denied the accusation, saying the so-called whistleblower only came out after failing to extort P300 million from him.
On Aug. 2, the victims’ relatives filed a complaint for multiple murder and serious illegal detention against Ang, several policemen, and members of Ang’s inner circle.
