MISSING ‘SABUNGEROS’: NO DNA EXTRACTED FROM BONES FOUND IN TAAL LAKE – PNP

NO DNA samples were extracted from the suspected human remains recovered underneath the Taal Lake amid the ongoing investigation into the missing “sabungeros,”  Philippine National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen.  Jean  Fajardo on Thursday said.

Fajardo said that the bone fragments recovered from the lakebed had been submerged for a long time, which likely led to their contamination.

“The challenge is matagal nang na-submerge at wala nang na-extract na DNA profile sa mga ito. Contaminated na,” she said.

Fajardo also said that the DNA profiles taken from three cadavers exhumed from a public cemetery in Batangas did not match the DNA profiles of 23 members of the family of the missing cockfight enthusiasts who voluntarily submitted their samples to the Philippine National Police-Forensic Group (PNP-FG.)

The DNA profiles were taken from the remains of two males and a female.

Fajardo said that on Wednesday, divers again recovered some suspected human remains in Taal Lake which will be subjected to the same scientific process.

Authorities started the search for the missing cockfight enthusiasts on July 10 after self-proclaimed whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan revealed that they were thrown into Taal Lake after being killed. 

At least 91 bone fragments have been recovered from the five sacks since the search commenced.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said  that on July 30, authorities have found a skull, along with other remains that resemble a human, in Taal Lake. 

However,  the remains have yet to be examined at the PNP Crime Laboratory. 

MISSING LINK

Meanwhile, Fajardo said two siblings of Patidongan could be the “missing link” in the case of the lost “sabungeros.”

The brothers identified as Jose and Elakim Patidongan were repatriated from abroad on July 22 by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) .

The duo were reportedly the ones seen withdrawing money from an ATM in Batangas and the same pair who escorted missing cockfight enthusiast Michael Bautista.

COCKFIGHT ENTHUSIASTS KIN SLAM ATTEMPT TO CHARGE WHISTLEBLOWER

The family of some missing “sabungeros” alleged that members of the CIDG were urging them to file charges against whistleblower Patidongan.

However, the relatives said they would not sign the affidavit if Patidongan was charged.

Amid the alleged attempt to charge the whistleblower, an official of the PNP-CIDG has been relieved from his post.