Buried unidentified corpses recovered in search of the 'missing sabungeros'

• Authorities discovered around three unidentified bodies buried in a public cemetery in Laurel, Batangas, in connection to missing cockfighters and past drug war killings
• The exhumation followed the tip of a gravedigger who claimed to have buried the bodies three to four years ago after they were found in separate mountainous locations
• Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed the investigation focuses on missing cockfighters but is also considering links to drug war killings
• Authorities are setting up a DNA bank and coordinating with foreign experts, including the Japanese Embassy, to assist in DNA analysis and identify the victims

Authorities discovered approximately three unidentified bodies buried in a public cemetery in Laurel, Batangas, as part of the investigation into the missing cockfighters and previous drug war fatalities.

According to a report by Ian Cruz on GMA News' “24 Oras,” skeletal remains were discovered around 1:00 pm in a cemetery section pointed out by a gravedigger who claimed to have buried the bodies three or four years ago.

The timeline aligns with reports of missing cockfighters between 2021 and 2022. Whistleblower Julie “Dondon” Patidongan alleged these individuals were abducted and killed due to alleged cheating in cockfights.

Patidongan mentioned 34 missing cockfighters, but claimed over 100 were kidnapped, killed, and dumped in Taal Lake with weights attached to their bodies.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla stated that authorities are identifying potential burial sites connected not only to missing sabungeros but also to drug war victims.

He explained (translated), “There were some victims found in 2020 that were just buried by the police because nobody claimed them in the punerarya. We’re exhuming them now as we speak because we have to find out who these people are.”

He also announced the establishment of a DNA bank to assist in identifying the missing persons. Remulla mentioned the possibility of overlapping individuals involved in both the drug war and sabungero disappearances, saying, “They were part of the drug war and they were part of the disposition dito sa e-sabong.”

The remains will be transferred to the Philippine National Police forensic group’s facility for examination.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has reached out to the Japanese Embassy for assistance in the search and DNA analysis, highlighting the complexity of the case.

Watch the report in the video below:

News, photos, or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, this could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.

In a previous report by KAMI, a family of three was mercilessly shot and killed inside their store in Barangay Mallorca, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija. Caught by CCTV, three men entered their store, closed the roll-up door, and shot the entire family to death. Before fleeing, one of the suspects even grabbed a bag and a mobile phone from the victim. In a report by Gary De Leon of TV 5's 'Frontline Pilipinas,' the family started getting threats after lending P1-M to one of the residents of their barangay; allegedly using the money for business.

In another viral local report, a 51-year-old public school teacher in Las Piñas City was stabbed multiple times by her own husband. According to the report of EJ Gomez in 'Unang Balita,' the 38-year-old suspect committed the crime inside the school's faculty room. Police authorities said the school has a security guard, but, being a familiar face in the school, the suspect managed to easily get in and out of the school. The suspect said he was there to talk to his wife and settle their misunderstanding, but unfortunately, it led to a big arguement.

Source: KAMI.com.gh