DOJ Seeks Japanese Tech to Locate Missing Cockfighters in Taal Lake

The Department of Justice (DOJ) in the Philippines is seeking to utilize Japanese technology in the search for missing cockfighting enthusiasts who are believed to have been killed and dumped in Taal Lake in Batangas and Cavite since 2021.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla mentioned in a TV interview that despite the emergence of a former suspect named 'Totoy' who wishes to become a state witness, finding the bodies of at least 34 individuals remains a challenge in the four-year-old case.

Remulla stated, 'I have instructed my staff to draft a letter to the Japanese government to request their remote operating vehicles and accompanying equipment for the search.'

The use of this device will aid investigators in surveying and documenting any potential findings at the lake's muddy bottom, which spans over 230 square kilometers with an average depth of 100 meters.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) acknowledged the difficulty of the operation due to the lake's depth and width, but assured that they are equipped and trained for the task.

At least 60 technical divers from the PCG are prepared for the search pending approval from the DOJ, as mentioned by Captain Noemie Guirao-Cayabyab, the PCG spokesperson.

The Commission on Human Rights, which probed the case in 2021, urged the DOJ to ensure Totoy's safety to encourage more witnesses to come forward.

Totoy, in his attempt to be a state witness, disclosed to investigators that the missing cockfighters were strangled and disposed of in Taal Lake, a location he claimed was also used for discarding drug lords.

Remulla expressed confidence in Totoy's credibility, stating, 'He knows everything to the extent that we have access to the documents these people used.'

Totoy alleged that the payment for each cockfighter's killing could reach up to P500,000, and while there are currently 34 known victims, the count may rise to as many as 100.

According to the source: Inquirer.net.