BFAR SAYS TAWILIS FROM TAAL LAKE SAFE TO EAT

THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Sunday said tawilis fished from Taal Lake in Batangas are safe for human consumption.

The BFAR issued the statement following a whistleblower’s claims that the bodies of missing “sabungeros” abducted in 2021 were thrown into the lake.

Alias “Totoy,” one of the accused in the disappearance of 34 cockfighting aficionados, earlier claimed that the bodies of the abducted “sabungeros” were thrown into Taal Lake.

According to the BFAR, tawilis is a small pelagic fish that usually stays in shallow waters, and feeds on plankton.

The agency also said tawilis are not carnivorous.

The BFAR likewise clarified that other fish such as tilapia and bangus are usually cultured in fish pens, and do not freely swim in Taal Lake.

Earlier, alias “Totoy” claimed the killers of the missing “sabungeros” used sandbags to keep the bodies from floating to the surface.

According to alias “Totoy,” the “sabungeros” were kidnapped for allegedly stealing and pirating videos of online sabong.