Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will investigate claims that the missing sabungeros were killed and buried at the bottom of Taal Lake.
One of the suspects in the case has allegedly come forward, stating that the victims were already dead and that their bodies were dumped in the lake. Remulla said the claim will be thoroughly assessed, noting the DOJ already has testimony from other witnesses.
“We need to vet and study his claims. We have other sources and testimonies to compare,” Remulla told reporters.
He added that the DOJ might need technical divers to verify the information due to the lake’s depth and the difficulty of searching its bed.
In an exclusive “24 Oras” report, the suspect, identified only as “Totoy,” claimed not only the sabungeros but even a drug lord had been buried in Taal Lake. “They’re buried there already. If we dig them up, we’ll only find bones. How can we even identify them?” he said.
Remulla acknowledged the possibility that the story could be credible, especially since the victims vanished without a trace. “When people disappear without a trace, it might be because the area hasn’t been searched,” he said.
He also expressed openness to hearing from anyone willing to tell the truth. “I’ll speak with anyone who wants to come forward—we can’t just leave this unresolved,” he emphasized.
The DOJ continues to build the case, with Remulla stressing that every detail must be solid before proceeding to court.
He assured the families of the missing that the search and investigation are ongoing. “We owe it to them to find the remains. We need to exhaust all efforts,” he said.