No confirmation yet on contents of sack from Taal Lake – PCG

By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The contents of a sack found on the Laurel, Batangas side of Taal Lake are yet to be determined, with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) continuing its search for the alleged remains of the missing “sabungeros” (cockfighting enthusiasts).

PCG Spokesperson Capt. Noemie Cayabyab said validation and further investigation of suspicious objects found by PCG divers will be made by investigators of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“On the part of the PCG, we cannot mention as of the moment if ito ba ay buto or kung pwede maging part ng investigation (if these are bones or if it’s even part of the investigation). So, we usually turn over to the PNP and other lead agency na mag-determine at mag-clarify ng makukuha natin (that will determine and clarify what we collected),” Cayabyab said in an online interview over One News PH on Friday.

A sack containing what appeared to be burned human bones was first found in Taal Lake during a technical site assessment on Thursday.

On Friday, Cayabyab said over 40 divers from the PCG conducted the second set of technical dives and found sacks containing suspicious contents on a part of Taal Lake in Laurel, Batangas.

Aside from divers, the PCG is using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to monitor the search area.

An underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) is also on its way and is expected to be deployed beginning Sunday.

“Ito ay tutulong sa ating mga technical divers para makita ang nasa ilalim kasi isa rin sa mga challenges ay malabo at maburak na characteristic ng tubig sa ilalim ng Taal Lake (This will help our technical divers see underwater because of the murky and muddy characteristic of the depths of Taal Lake),” Cayabyab said.

Earlier, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wants to know if the recovered skeletal remains belong to the missing sabungeros and assured the investigation will continue.